Journalists should observe ethical standards and strictly adhere to professional codes to combat fake news, discussants at a seminar advised on Monday in Ibadan.
The seminar, organized by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, had the topic: “Responsible Reporting in the Era of Insecurity and Fake News.”
Discussants unanimously agreed that media professionals have a responsibility to counter the spread of fake news, especially given the activities of citizen journalists on social media.
Mr. Taiwo Adisa, a former Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and an editor with the Tribune Newspaper, urged journalists to intensify their role as purveyors of factual and balanced news stories.
He said, “Journalists should do a lot of gatekeeping to rid society of fake news, as they’ve got to live for the truth.”
He added, “Journalists must seek clarification or authentication from the police, army, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), or other relevant authorities before rushing to publish stories.”
“Anything short of verifying news before publication is irresponsible reporting,” Adisa stated.
He also emphasized that the government should be challenged to tell the truth at all times and to do their job.
“It is not enough to give excuses about not being in charge of security in their states,” Adisa said.
Adisa further tasked journalists with holding governments at all levels responsible for the security of citizens’ lives and property.
Additionally, Mr. Adebayo Sekoni, the Zonal Manager of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, advised journalists to operate within the confines of the constitution and the statutes regulating media practice in Nigeria.
Sekoni stressed that reports should adhere to the elements of a news story—accuracy, factuality, objectivity, balance, and respect for human dignity and privacy.
He warned that, given the country’s security challenges, journalists must be responsible and circumspect when publishing stories or videos related to terrorism, conflicts, mass killings, and similar issues, as unconfirmed reports could cause significant harm.
In his welcome address, Mr. Akeem Abas, the state Chairman of the NUJ, described the seminar as a critical call to duty, conscience, and responsibility at a defining moment in Nigeria’s history.
Abas noted that the media landscape is under severe pressure from insecurity, misinformation, fake news, cyber manipulation, and unethical journalism practices that threaten national unity and public confidence.
“Anybody with a smartphone can suddenly assume the role of a journalist; unverified information spreads within seconds, and reputations can be destroyed without evidence.
“False reports capable of causing violence, ethnic tension, and public panic are recklessly circulated without regard for the consequences.
“Journalists must rise above this. We must never allow the pursuit of traffic, headlines, popularity, or financial gain to destroy the integrity of journalism, which has been painstakingly built over decades by media veterans and defenders of democracy,” Abas stated.
Mr. Augustine Padonu, the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Oyo State Command, urged journalists to verify security-related information before going to press.
Represented by DSC Oluokun Adeyemi, Padonu also called for closer cooperation between security agencies and the media.
