By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
With the journalistic ethics, research, training and principles that I have learnt at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, I have been able to discover that the journalistic blunders committed by some well-known journalists recently, especially those from the broadcast media, radio and television, were not only of the fact that they had not been to school of journalism or studied mass communication at the higher institutions of learning, but some of them are well-trained reporters whose personalities and the reputation of their media houses have been stunted by the citizens because of their being biased, unfair, inaccurate, unbalanced and subjective in their daily reports and analyses.
“Journalistic standards are inevitably slipping. And we are beginning to see the blurring of facts and comments in a way that I think is extremely worrying and extremely challenging. We have to get people to tighten up,” said Will Lewis.
The imbalance in the editorial writing; analysis of current issues and the straightforward news which Will Lewis has spoken about has made the Nigerian Institute of Journalism one of the institutes of journalism to tighten up the profession in Africa from loosening out. It is done through its teachings and other journalistically engaged events.
At the four-day training for students of journalism on, “Journalism Ethics and Conflict Reporting” by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, from 30 August to 2nd September 2021, the Dutch journalist, Femke Van Zeijl, said journalists should always ask evidence-based questions from interviewees if they really needed factual information.
The international journalist emphasized that journalists should not be biased, adding that they should not judge while interviewing but rather listen to the response of the interviewee to ask accurate follow-up questions.
“Put interview at ease but remain critical. There is no bad interviewee, we only have bad journalists,” she said.
The Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Mr Gbenga Adefaye, has advised untrained journalists in the media industry to enroll in a diploma course at NIJ to avert public disgrace from the trained ones.
Adefaye said this on Wednesday, 14 December at the book presentation, titled: “ History and Politics of Nigeria from Journalism Archives”, written by Mike Osuji, the current Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos.
The provost, who was the event’s chairman reminded the participants of the fact that most of the well-known Nigerian journalists, in some media houses in Nigeria today, have been victims of humiliation as a result of bias; unbalanced; unfairness and lack of journalistic ethics that always reflect in their daily reports or analyses.
“Some of these journalists studied accounting; English language; sciences or engineering in school and that has been the reason those that studied Mass Communication or journalism do call them writers, not journalists,” he said.
Adefaye said that since he assumed office as the provost of NIJ, the books written by the lecturers of the institution have been his guides as he felt that those books were written from the lecturers’ long-term experience in the teaching of journalism and students who also find the books as a guide are excelled in their careers.
He said, “When I came to NIJ, one of the first gifts that I got was a collection of books authored by the Deputy Provost, Dr Dele Omojuyigbe, and these books have occupied prominent places on my shelves because I found them so useful and do recommend them for whoever wants to excel in the career of journalism.”
Adefaye said that the author of the book, “History and Politics of Nigeria from Journalism Archives”, Mike Osuji, has chosen to put his name permanently on the shelves of many institutions and other places of learning, especially for the trainers and learners of Mass Communication.
“There are so many books on the history of Nigeria written from several perspectives. Some are written by politicians, while others are written by historians; ghostwriters and some are written by colonial rulers in the past.
“What is unique about “History and Politics of Nigeria from Journalism Archives” is that it is written from the journalism perspective and which is always being in the archives,” he said.
The Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dr Dele Omojuyigbe, has cautioned Nigerian journalists to stop the habit of clapping to politicians’ speeches but rather investigate them and ask appropriate questions.
Omojuyigbe made this remark while addressing the politicians and journalists at an event held in NIJ, Lagos, tagged, “The Town Hall Symposium with 2023 Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidates,” organized by the Societal Concern in conjunction with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
He said that it is unethical for a reputable journalist to cheer or celebrate politicians while covering a political event, adding that such action is unpatriotic and it is a revelation of biases.
He said, “I have said many times that if you want to join politics, join politics and leave journalism. The moment you join politics, we know you are a politician, but you can not claim to be a journalist and still be a politician.”
“Are you doing the right thing as a journalist? Are you taking people to account? Are you asking questions? Are you ready to go for investigation? Are you sure as a journalist that if you are called to investigate, won’t you be the person to be investigated because of your own corrupt attitude,” he said.
Head of News and Current Affairs, Raypower Lagos, Abiola Aberuagba, has urged journalists; other Nigerian news media practitioners to be critical of governance and keep away from any political compromise in order to strengthen their respect and integrity in the country.
The renowned journalist, who was one of the judges at the 2023 students’ debate organized by the Students’ Representative Council of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism on Wednesday, 25 January 2023, gave the advice while addressing the students.
Aberuagba said the theme of the debate, “The Role of Media in the Political Dispensation”, is Germain and critical at this point in time that Nigerians are going to the polls, adding that the journalists should always update themselves in order to inform the public accurately so that citizens would always make informed decisions.
She said, “the topic has been genuinely treated by the participants in the debate and I commend you all for the boldness you have portrayed but the basic thing is that the ethics of journalism must be kept all the time”.
“Most of the campaigns from the politicians are not issued-based but it is for us to ask questions. In security, what are you doing for us? What are your plan on education? These are what we should be asking to set the agenda for the public,” she said.
Why the mission to serve the citizens through the 2023 general election has become a do-or-die race?
So, to avoid imminent protest from the electorates, the best message from the home of journalism to all agents of a good democracy, be it Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force, is to practise FAIRNESS and EQUITY in all their deeds.
Ibrahim Taofeek Kegbegbe
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