Abeokuta – Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has emphasized the need for regulation of online media to curb the spread of fake news and maintain ethical standards in journalism.
Amosun made this call while delivering an address at the 6th anniversary lecture of Penpushing Media, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Amosun commended Penpushing Media for their choice of theme, “National Balance-Infrastructure Capacity, Diversity as Tools for Building Blocks and Good Governance,” and urged the media to play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and promoting national cohesion.
He expressed concern over the proliferation of online media, which has led to the spread of rumor, untruths, and manipulative propaganda, and called for a self-regulatory framework to separate serious online media platforms from unscrupulous ones.
Amosun challenged Penpushing Media to take a lead role in regulating the online media sector, collaborating with other platforms and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to set standards and codes of conduct.
He emphasized the need for journalists and media practitioners to commit to publishing verifiable, objective, and balanced news stories that promote peace, national development, and cohesion.
Read full speech:
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY FORMER GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, H.E., SENATOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUN CON, FCA AT THE 6TH ANNIVERSARY LECTURE OF PENPUSHING MEDIA, HELD ON THURSDAY, 25TH JULY, 2024 AT THE
OLUSEGUN OBASANJO PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY, ABEOKUTA
Protocols,
Let me begin this address by congratulating the Editorial Board, Management, and the entire staff of Penpushing Media on the occasion of your 6th anniversary lecture. l also commend the planning committee and all those who contributed to the successful organisation of this event.
2. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, there is no gain saying that the media has continued to gain more prominence in today’s world, as its sphere of influence and reach increase day by day. Apart from its conventional role as disseminator of information, the media also plays the role of facilitator of development, an agent of socialisation and a driving force of change. On this note, l commend you on the choice of the theme of this year’s anniversary “National Balance-Infrastructure Capacity, Diversity as Tools for Building Blocks and Good Governance”. This is a multifaceted topic that I will leave for the paper presenter and panelists to articulate upon.
3.As essential as the roles of the media and its practitioners are in our society, especially in shaping the opinions and setting agenda for good governance, national cohesion, communal harmony, and socio-economic development, it is of utmost importance that the media, particularly online platforms, must do so with circumspection and deep sense of responsibility.
4.The proliferation of online media in Nigeria has become a source of concern to stakeholders in the media industry and the generality of the people. Though one can not rule out the fact that online journalism comes with its ability to ensure that news and information get to readers all over the world as they happen. The speed with which news can be written, revised, and released makes online journalism an indispensable tool for journalists and readers alike.
5.In today’s fast-paced, internet-enabled world, people are increasingly turning to online media for their news and information. This has led to a change in the way that news is reported and consumed, with online journalism now becoming a major force in influencing public opinion and sparking discussions. On the flip side of these positive gains, are issues of rumour peddling, outright untruths, manipulative propaganda, and fake news posing a huge change to the credibility of many of these online media platforms.
6.I know all of us seated here today would have at one time or another read stories about some important personalities, government policies and programmes which eventually turned out to be untrue. Online media platforms appear to have created an avenue where everyone can lay claim to being a ‘citizen or digital journalist’, and engage in spreading news stories not minding whether they are factual or not. While many people dish out false information out of lack of knowledge about the ethical standards of journalism profession, yet, some others maliciously engage in disseminating premeditated falsehood about people and institutions with intent to discredit, ridicule, or damage their reputations. Sadly, negative news items tend to gain traction faster and more than the positive ones.
7. This trend is fast becoming a new normal and has continued unabated in our society. As we are in this hall today, several online media platforms are launching into the air waves, publishing stories without any restraints or recourse to the core journalistic values of Objectivity, Balance, and Professionalism. This is a challenge to media practitioners to come up with a self-regulatory framework, in conjunction with the relevant bodies, in other to save journalism from the grip hands of quacks and “emergency reporters” who are fond of publishing fake, subjective and unbalanced news or stories.
8.From the foregoing, the need for regulation of online and social media is vital to separate the serious ones from the unscrupulous outfits, many of whose promoters are faceless and their offices unregistered, from tarnishing the image and damaging the reputation of the serious-minded professional ones. This is to forestall a case of one bad apple spoiling the whole bunch. May I humbly challenge Penpushing Media to take a pole position in the drive to regulate this sector of news media. Penpushing needs to collaborate with other online media platforms and work with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to set standards and code of conducts for their operations, including the accreditation of their members, and the need to educate the general public of their recourse to complain and seek redress where injured, and to ensure prompt retraction of untrue news or stories.
9.This is the time for real journalists to take their rightful position. Our nation is in dire need of journalists and media practitioners who are committed and unwavering in their quest to employ their platforms to publish verifiable, objective and balanced news stories that will engender peace and tranquility in the society, national development and cohesion, and not falsehood and propaganda. The media with particular emphasis on the online and social media must see itself as an integral part of the society, the media needs to serve public interests at all times so as to continue to be relevant as the fourth estate of the realm.
10.Let me, once again, thank the Editorial Board, Management, planning committee and the entire staff of Penpushing Media for inviting me to chair this year’s anniversary lecture. I enjoin Penpushing Media to continue to live up to the ethical standard of Journalism.
11.I thank you all for listening.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun CON, FCA
Governor of Ogun State (2011-2019)
Senator, Ogun Central (2003-2007, 2019-2023)
Thursday, 25 July, 2024.
