By Haruna Salami
Managing Director of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) TV Enterprises, Mr. Maxwell Loko, has called on practitioners of Online Journalism to regulate themselves, to continue winning the confidence of readers and followers.
The media expert who admitted that the online journalists were not in competition with the mainstream media, called for synergy between both practitioners.
Mr. Loko stated this in Abuja on Wednesday when the National Assembly New Media paid a courtesy visit to the NTA headquarters to honour him for his role in ensuring Nigeria actualized the transition from analog to digital broadcasting.
He applauded the Forum of Online Journalists in the National Assembly, for taking bold steps in regulating themselves without waiting for the government’s regulatory framework.
“There is no denying the fact that, the online journalism, whether we like it or not, has come to stay with us and it is going to be here for a very long time. Online media is, of course, the future of the media.
“Practitioners of Online Journalism wield a lot of powers, and that is where the dilemma lies. We are aware that online media is still largely unregulated. The dilemma is that here you are with enormous powers and the capacity to influence, yet, you are operating in an unstructured and unregulated environment. So, it comes with a lot of temptations for unwholesome and unethical practices.
“That’s why people like us will continuously appeal to a forum like yours that regulations start from you as individuals. If you like, you can call it self-censorship. You should begin to regulate yourself.
“Because, either we like it or not, the basic tenets of journalism, amongst others, are accuracy and unbiased reportage. As popular as your subsector in the industry is, there are many cases where people doubt the authenticity of your information, and when that becomes the norm, people begin to doubt your accuracy.
“Because you are not regulated, it will also put a lot of burden on you, to convince your mass followers that whatever comes from you can also be accurate.
“So, you do not wait for a restructured regulatory framework to ensure that is done. It is when you begin to regulate yourself and you can not do it except through a forum like yours.
“What is exciting most of us is that, when the systems all over the world are grappling with the regulatory framework on how to curtail the excesses of the social media and online journalism, we have people who have taken it upon themselves that, ‘we can regulate ourselves, we can operate within the realm of professional journalism”, Loko stated.
He debunked the belief of many people that the New Media was in direct competition with the mainstream media, adding that, the online journalists were only complementing the traditional media since they all work towards the same objectives, “of making sure the voiceless have a voice; that the truth is told; that we will act as the nexus between those who have the powers and those who completely do not have powers”.
Mr. Loko charged the Online Journalists covering the National Assembly not to be responsible to members of National Assembly alone, but also to people who are outside and depend on them for “factual, accurate information so that you would become that critical nexus that is always necessary for the dissemination of information to those we believe are voiceless”.
Earlier, Chairman of NASS New Media, Comrade Yemi Itodo extolled the leadership qualities of Mr. Loko, whom he described as “an astute administrator, a diligent achiever and an incorruptible manager”, worthy of celebration.
He said Loko’s nomination for recognition as ‘Administrator of the Year’ was not unconnected with his uncommon attitude to public service and his expert contributions at ensuring Nigeria actualised the transition from analog to digital broadcasting.
