The Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi has urged media practitioners to be more professional , ethical and avoid involving themselves in politics.
Speaking at the 2019 Awards ceremony organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Osun state chapter, held in Osogbo on Saturday, Alabi said journalists should know their ethics and report news as it is adding that the media should eschew bias and prejudice in the discharge of their duties.
He said there was the need for journalists and media practitioners to be assertive and professional in the line of duty.
He said as partners in development, actors within the realm of the fourth estate, journalists ought to develop their leadership skill in order to contribute effectively to the development of the nation.
According to the Deputy Governor, it was incumbent upon the media practitioners to stay clear from the old snare of media polarisation which seeks to entrap media from joining partisan politics.
Urging journalists to promote democracy through accurate reportage, Alabi lamented the havoc which the fake news and unverified information have done to the country and the world in general.
He said the only way to eradicate fake news and wrong information circulated most of the time by the media against the government was for the journalists to uphold the principle of objectivity, saying most of the time fake news instigates government’s policies against the public.
Osun Deputy Governor maintained that, if those in charge of information management, the media men and women can be more investigative and always cross check facts about every information before publication especially as relates to Government policies and activities, society would be better.
He called for continued cooperation between the government and members of the fourth Estate of the realm in their efforts to taking the state and the country to the next level of development, through media activities especially information dissemination.
“As a government, our doors are always open for you to cross check facts that relate to our government before publication. You are assured of our cooperation at all times”, Alabi said.
He however, identified with women in their call for more inclusion in governance and political appointments, encouraging women to be more visible in contest for political posts.
He said that Nigerian women have proven to be intelligent, diligent and dependable above all they are the first trainer of all mankind, adding that Governor Gboyega Oyetola led government will surely fulfill its promise to women, as regard appointment.
He noted that their government remains committed to the development of state and wellbeing of its citizenry.
