Political journalists urge to imbibe professionalism

Political reporters of the Nigeria Union of journalist (NUJ) have been urged not to compromise their integrity but adhere strictly to the ethics of the profession as 2019 election draws closer. A former Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) who is also a veteran broadcast journalist, Mr Femi Mapaderun, made the call in Ilorin at a Seminar on Journalists and Ethics of Election coverage and reportage which was organised by NOA and NUJ Kwara State Council. Mr Mapaderun, who said journalists should ask themselves how they are performing? where did they missed it?, also stressed the need for journalists to discharge their duties professionally and follow the ethics of the profession, noted that a lot of loose money was flying around as the 2019 election is around the corner, but they should resist the money despite the bills to pay as stories should not be killed but they should keep their integrity intact. He added that private media suffer credibility due to ownership control as he who pays the piper dictate the tune noted that journalist should not compromise to their integrity. “As media practitioner, in this election, season we must be able to differentiate between propaganda and truth. As media practitioners you are endowed with a potent instrument for change. You have tremendous energy for qualitative analysis through your reports and this shall measured by the extent to which you enhance the integration of the society.” He said. He added that the involvement of journalists in the election process was to help in boosting the competence of the electorate in the electoral process and confer goodwill on the election umpires. He said journalist should ask themselves the role they wish to perform with their election coverage positive or negative as he also stressed the need to bring back the lost values. Speaking earlier, the Kwara state Director of National Orientation Agency NOA Mr Olusegun Adeyemi said as key stakeholders in the 2019 electoral process, journalists should be objective in their reportage, put professionalism above personal interest but report balance stories not sharing information capable of promoting violence. Speaking further, the Chairman Nigerian Union of journalist Kwara State Council Mallam Umar Abdulwab said the seminar was timely and germane as the country count down to the 2019 general election which the journalist would be actively involved in transmitting information to the general public as he urged the journalists to heed to the lectures given in the seminar. Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin