The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged veteran journalists to leverage on the use of online and social media platforms to mentor upcoming journalists.
The union also urged journalists to uphold the culture of respect for elders and for professional values in order to strengthen ethical standards for a more vibrant media practice in the country.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a high-level media interactive dialogue organised by the Kano State NUJ Council in collaboration with the state Ministry of Information and Home Affairs.
The interactive session which brought together veterans, lecturers, journalists, prominent media practitioners and media managers among others, was held to chart a workable path for healthy ethical and socially responsible journalism in the state and beyond.
The union also called for the support of the media enhancement bill which seeks to improve the welfare package and insurance coverage for journalists, saying it’s a vital tool for promoting ethical journalism.
It recommended a continuous ethical development with training for journalists, prioritising continuous capacity building programs as well as the use of artificial intelligence to combat fake news and enhance healthy competition and professionalism.
The communique also emphasized the need for the NUJ and the ministry to provide a platform for dialogue on sensitive social issues and harmful religious narratives, providing massive public enlightenment campaign to promote respect for law and order in the state and beyond.
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While maintaining that journalists must maintain a clear professional identity distinct from untrained citizen reporters, the NUJ recommended that media houses should hire professionals to save the profession from ridicule.
“Converging offices should be provided for retired journalists to network and share experiences. Stakeholders should collectively correct recurrent mistakes in media content, particularly in broadcast journalism.
“A reward system should be instituted by both government and NUJ for journalists who uphold high ethical standards,” the communique highlighted.
The NUJ however, acknowledged the state government as the most media friendly government in Nigeria, saying, the state has made significant investments in journalism related infrastructure, human capital development and payment of pension arrears for retired journalists.
