Young media practitioners has been cautioned to guide against quick rich syndrome, stressing that aggressive pursuit of money is not a yardstick for success in journalism.
This was made known by the Founder of Penpushing Media, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, while delivering a lecture at the maiden edition of annual lecture of Association of Mass Communications Students (AMACOS) of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to him, young journalists can attained greater heights through their passion for the profession, adding that journalism is a noble profession, noting that love of money in journalism might endanger credibility of the profession.
The guest lecturer who spoke on the topic, “Fake News and Journalism: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward”, urged the upcoming journalists to be passionate with the profession.
Prince Adedeji, who was also the former Zonal Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) called on practitioners on need to do away from fake news to avoid loss of credibility, recalling that fake news was responsible for 1963 civil war in Nigeria, adding that the end result was massacre.
“A responsible journalist must always avoid disseminating falsehood, which is better described as ‘pregnancy stage’ of fake news, and in most cases ‘brought in dead”, he noted.
The media practitioner also pointed out that fake news can cripple the nation and may cause unending war, adding that it can also damaged the reputation of a person or an entity.
The media guru lamented that use of social media has also contributed to the spread of fake news in the society because there are many anonymously-hosted fake news websites which have made it difficult to identify and prosecute those behind the sources of fake news for libel.
“However, a practicing journalist with passion for the profession should be cautious and mindful on the need to grow a thick skin, because the unfortunate truth is that there are a lot of forces working against professional journalists, including long hours and a job that often seems thankless. And that is only the beginning,
“Clearly, we need effective self-regulation and legally-enforced regulation of social media and web search engines are needed. The information space needs to be flooded with accurate news to displace fake news. Individuals need to actively confront false narratives when spotted, as well as take care when sharing information via social media”, he said.
He said effective self-regulation and legally-enforced regulation of social media and web search engines are needed to curb fake news, adding that individuals need to actively confront false narratives when spotted, as well as take care when sharing information via social media.
“But, I can tell you that multiple strategies for fighting fake news are currently being actively researched, and need to be tailored to individual’s types of fake news”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the guest lecturer also used the occasion to present a book titled, “Battlelines, Adventures in Journalism and Politics” authored by Chief Olusegun Osoba, a politician and a foremost veteran journalist, to the Mass Communications Department of the Institution, adding that the memoir will be beneficial for the students.
In her own speech, the Deputy Registrar of the Institution, Mrs. Yetunde Alagbe, called on the students to always focus on their area of specialization in journalism, adding that their passion towards the profession will makes them to succeed.
“A lot of things is associated with journalism, you have to decide on your area of specialization, you need to think well and decide wisely, you need to understand the passion you have for journalism and this will help you a lot in achieving your dream”, she told the students.
Alagbe however, urged the students to think out of box, stating that it is an opportunity for them to be communicators who served as voice to the voiceless in the society towards nation building.
