By Uzo Ugwunze
Journalists have been tasked to brace up to the Essence of Journalism as Watchdogs of the Society whose roles include acting as a check by monitoring government, corporate, and institutional activities to ensure accountability, transparency, and the protection of democratic processes.
Speaking during the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ Anambra State Council Congress at Awka on Thursday, Sir Victor Agusiobor, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors who served as the Chairman NUJ Anambra State Council for two tenures in his Key Note address titled ‘Essence of Journalism in the Society’ differentiated Journalism from Public Relations, truth telling from News writing, event reporting from interpretative journalism, maintained that government will never get it right or serve their purpose if professional media practitioners/ journalists refuse to depend on brown envelope, but rather rise up to the occasion by holding public office holders accountable through investigative and interpretative journalism.
According to Agusiobor, as a professional media practitioner you cannot be serving the essence of journalism when you publish undiluted puffery for government, when you become just an explainer and apologist of government. You cannot be serving the tenets of journalism when you become a lapdog instead of a watchdog, looking for compensations and approval instead of growling at the abuses of power.
“Interpretative reporting is key.You cannot just throw plain facts to the people without assisting them to understand the significance of a thing, policy or event.To push naked facts to the people without assisting them to comprehend, know the background and significance of those facts. When we learn to write in order to highlight the significance of a thing,we move into an area of journalism that we need today – interpretative writing.
“Content is key. Men of old left us the honorifics that ‘pen is mightier than the sword’. What honorifics are we contributing to journalism today as the Fourth estate of the realm.
“People older than us in the Journalism profession understood that news is actually different from truth. Harold Lasswel posits that the function of news is to signalize an event, the function of truth is to bring to light the hidden facts and set them in relation with each other and make a picture of reality in our heads.
“It is no longer enough to report the fact truthfully, it is now necessary for us to report the truth about the fact. For instance, if you meet a lying minister and interview him for one hour and you do a stenographic report of that interview and send it out , the report is accurate but it didn’t serve the ends of journalism.
“Let no man confuse journalism with public relations. Men in power, men seeking power wants to hide all things. As journalist you should continue to unravel while they keep hiding their wrongs. If you want to leave that position leave journalism,” said Agusiobor.
He further advised media practitioners to form cooperatives to help themselves, write books and engage in other forms of businesses saying that it would enable them to avoid living at the mercy of brown envelopes or handed outs from those at the corridors of power which has adverse effects on the essence of journalism thereby portraying journalists as lapdogs instead of watchdogs.
Moreover, Venerable Sagacious Ikezue, an aspirant for the Anambra Central Senatorial Seat during the Congress solicited for the support of NUJ Anambra State Council in publicizing his intentions and vision saying that he is on a rescue mission mandate.
Speaking through his Strong ally Dr Okey Nwuche, the Anambra Central Senatorial seat aspirant under the umbrella of Labour Party, Ven. Sagacious Ikezue, told journalists that his intention to vie for the position was a reform-driven agenda anchored on integrity, service and transformational leadership.
“Ikezue’s ambition is more than a political pursuit, it represents a call to service and a commitment to improving the welfare of the people through responsive representation, progressive legislation and purposeful leadership. It is a rescue mission mandate.
” I am an ardent Catholic but look at an Anglican venerable coming out to rescue Anambra Central Senatorial District. I am above the level of playing religious politics or supporting someone who is not qualified. I am going to support this Anglican priest who I have known for about 30 years now
I know his pedigree, capability and doggedness. He is the kind of person that Anambra Central needs . If he gets into the Red chamber Anambra Central will no longer lag behind any more.
Ven Ikezue is soliciting for the support of NUJ Anambra State Council and has promised to work with us if he becomes a Senator,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Anambra State NUJ chapter Chairman, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD congratulated the appointment and reappointment of some political office holders and commissioners who are friends of the Union by His Excellency Governor Chukwuma Soludo saying that their nominations could be traced to their affinity with the NUJ Anambra chapter.
“Our NUJ Man of the year, Hon. Arc Okey Ezeobi.got a promotion to become Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure showing that the Man of the Year Award brought him to further limelight.
Some of the appointees are friends of the NUJ. They have been of assistance to the Union in one way or another. Chukwuemeka Agbata of the ICT agency,ACTDA Awka Capital Territory Development Agency, Mr Osita Onuko, we also congratulate the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike he has given us free medical care and our very own Dr. Law Mefor , the Commissioner for Information.
These are people who remember that journalism is the neck towards improving societal welfare and hang on it to showcase their activities.
Odogwu sought for further partnership from the political office holders urging them not to forget the support from the union. Journalism as the Fourth estate of the realm is the only arm of the government that is not part of the government, Odogwu said.
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