NGE TOWN HALL MEETING: MEDIA EXPERTS TASK JOURNALISTS ON PROFESSIONALISM
REPORTER: AMAKA UCHENNADIUKWU
Media proffessionals have called on politicians in Nigeria to have a change of attitude to help to deepen democracy and facilitate sustainable democratic culture in the country.
Facilitators in a town hall meeting organised by Nigeria Guild of Editors in Enugu made the call during the three day meeting.
Speaking on the theme of the event, AGENDA SETTING: SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRATIC CULTURE, a former minister of Information and Culture, Chief Frank Nweke (Jr) recalled that the media remained a social institition empowered by the constitition to checkmate the activities of the government, hold them acountable and play a watchdog role in the society.
Chief Nweke maintained that the the core duties of the media included accountability mechanism, agenda setting mechanism and gate keeping mechanism.
Also, the Executive Director, Women Informtion Network (WINET) and member Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, called on government at all levels to prioritize the welfare of journalist.
Mrs. Menkiti therefore encouraged journalist to always seek indepth knowledge on issues, stressing the need for all media practisioners to acquire good education inorder to perform their duties optimally.
“Government must find a way of funding the media. As a trained professional, do not assume, rather, educate your readers, especially on issues of social relevance.
“As you set agenda, remember women in politics,” she admonished.
Another resource person and senior lecturer Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, Dr. Maxwel Ngene, who stated that Agenda Setting was the theory that describes the powerful influence of the media in the ability to inform people on any issue whatsoever, cautioned journalists to eschew negetive attitudunal change, money politics, god fatherism and electoral malpractices.
“An enduring democratic culture was as a result of correct fight against corruption. In all, journalists should posses democratic culture.
“Words journalists should think about in the discharge of their duties are Conscious, Dedication, Diligence, and Sincere Pursuit.
“This is a call for re-evaluation of our endeavours in the profession,” Dr. Ngene commented.
In a remark, the Chaiman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Samuel Udekwe, thanked the organisrers (NGE) for the golden opportunity given to journalist to be abreast of their core role in agenda aetting.
Also, the Acting Chairperson, Nigeria Asociation of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Enugu State, Comrade Ngozi Ngene, called on the organzers of the Town Hall meeting to make such a gathering quaterly instead of only during elections.
In another development, a journalist, Amarchi Enebe, called on journalists to be passion driven despite the inability of some media outfilts to provide stomach infrastructure.
One of the organisers and retired staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Enugu National Station, Mr. Ngwoke Ngwoke, implored journalists to carry out their duties in a professional and ethical manner at all times.
Participants were drawn from the Nigerian Guild of Editors, broadcast and print media outfits as well as students from differents institutions of higher learning.
The event was also attended by the United State’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard.
