By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Prof. Gbenga Ibileye.
The Provost, College of Post graduate studies,Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, north central Nigeria, Prof.Gbenga Ibileye,has called for a critical examination of the recruitment process of contemporary mass media practitioners in Nigeria.
The new chairman of the union, Alhaji Sheidu Ademu Haruna.
Members of the new exco.
He made the call on Wednesday in his paper, entitled,” The Mass Media As The Fourth Estate of The Ream: “Fact or Fiction,” at the Triennial Conference 2023 of the Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ,Kogi State Council at the NUJ Press Centre,Lokoja.
The don argued that the need for that became imperative ,in view of the phenomenal growth and diversification of the Press from its earlier monolithic character as print to the behemot and variegated , technologically divers media.
The then chairman,Alhaji Adeiza Momojimoh, reading his speech before handing the leadership of the union to the new chairman,Alhaji Sheidu Ademu Haruna.
The professor said,” In today’s media land scape,concerns have been raised about the erosion of question of recruitment of media practitioners.
” In Nigeria, for instance,the space has been so liberalised that it has become an all-commers affair.
“People without adequate training in journalism,mass communication or media practice find themselves writing, editing,reporting ,and generally setting the agenda and nuances for the media and media analysis,”he said.
He also expressed concern that the advent of social media had further complicated the issues, nothing that anybody who had access to a computer,mobile device and internet, and who could type any passable english, would call themselves journalists or media practitioners.
According to him, the implication of the challenges facing journalism practice in the country were not for the survival of the profession alone but the society and the other Three Realms of the Estate.
The challenges not withstanding,the professor called on the press to continue to self-regulate and reinforce its professional and ethical standards,reminding the practitioners that these were essential in restoring public trust in them as a reliable source of information.
“Efforts to combat misinformation should continue and be sustained, media literacy should be enhanced.
“Additionally,fostering diversity in mass media and embracing commitment to fact-based reporting can contribute to revertizing the media’s role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm,” the university lecturer added.
In his acceptance speech, the new chairman of the union, Alhaji Sheidu Ademu Haruna, commended the former chairman, Alhaji Adeiza Momohjimoh and his members for quality leadership and promised to consolidate on Momohjimoh’s legacy of leadership to boost the effort of his council in running the affairs of the union.
Our correspondent reports that all the new executive members of the union were elected unopposed.
They are: Alhaji Ademu Sheidu Haruna,Alhaji Ibrahim Obansa-Vice Chairman, Mr.Olusegun Oyenibi-Secretary, Mr .Atuluku Samuel -Assistant Secretary,Mrs.Josephine Unekwu Ali-Auditor,Mr.Sunny Adebija-Treasurer and Mal. Abdulsalam Muhammed-Financial Secretary.
Many journalists and other members of the society attended the occasion.
