NUJ Urges Responsible Journalism as Experts Tackle Insecurity, Fake News

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, has called on media practitioners to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accuracy, and ethical conduct in reporting, particularly amid rising insecurity and the proliferation of fake news.

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The charge was given by the Chairman of the Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, during an Interventional Seminar on Reporting in the Era of Insecurity and Fake News, organised by the council in Ibadan.

In his keynote address, Abas described the seminar as a critical call to duty, conscience, and responsibility at a defining moment in Nigeria’s history, noting that the media landscape is increasingly threatened by insecurity, misinformation, cyber manipulation, and unethical journalism practices.

He stressed that journalism remains one of the most powerful professions capable of building societies, promoting peace, exposing corruption, and strengthening democracy.

According to him, the profession is under siege from fake news merchants, untrained bloggers, and social media propagandists who thrive on sensationalism, distortion, and deliberate falsehood.

“Fake news is not journalism. Character assassination is not journalism. Blackmail is not journalism. Reckless speculation is not journalism,” Abas declared, warning that unverified security reports and misleading information could endanger lives and undermine national security.

He urged journalists to embrace verification, fairness, balance, and responsibility in their reportage, especially on issues relating to terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and communal conflicts.

The NUJ chairman also highlighted the implications of the Cybercrime Act on media practice, urging journalists and content creators to familiarize themselves with relevant laws governing digital communication while defending press freedom responsibly.

He, however, cautioned against the misuse of cybercrime laws to intimidate or silence journalists carrying out legitimate professional duties, insisting that democracy thrives when the media remains free, fearless, and responsible.

Speaking at the seminar, former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde and General Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, Dr. Taiwo Adisa, commended the NUJ for organizing the programme.

Adisa traced the evolution of journalism from the era of “guerrilla journalism” during the struggle against military rule to the present democratic dispensation, lamenting the misuse of the concept of citizen journalism.

He argued that many individuals operating under the guise of citizen journalism often blur the line between professional journalism and public conversation, thereby contributing to the spread of misinformation.

He urged journalists, security agencies, and citizens to remain committed to truth and factual reporting, identifying the quest for clicks, traffic, and online popularity as factors fueling unprofessional conduct in the media space.

Also speaking, the Zonal Manager of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Adebayo Sekoni, examined laws regulating Nigeria’s media environment and emphasized the need for strict adherence to ethical journalism, factual accuracy, balance, and public interest.

He identified social media expansion, poor media literacy, and the increasing preference for speed over accuracy as major drivers of fake news in the country.

Sekoni called on the Nigerian Press Council and the National Broadcasting Commission to enforce media regulations and sanction violators of professional standards.

In his presentation on the causes and instruments of misinformation and fake news, the General Manager of News Frontiers Television, Rev. Eben Durodola, identified artificial intelligence, recycled and unrelated videos, social media platforms, and online content creators as major contributors to the spread of false information.

He noted that misinformation often leads to social tension, economic disruption, and attacks on individuals and institutions.

Durodola advocated fact-checking, verification of official information, regulation of social media platforms, and the inclusion of media literacy studies in school curricula as measures to combat fake news.

Representing the Zonal Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Rev. Niyi Dahunsi lauded the leadership of the NUJ Oyo State Council for prioritizing training and capacity building.

He challenged journalists to verify information thoroughly and publish authentic reports rather than remaining silent in the face of misinformation.

Also contributing, Uthman Oluokun Adeyemi  who representded the state commandant of NSCDC advised journalists to exercise patience in breaking news and encouraged the NUJ to sustain regular training programmes for its members.

Similarly, the Convener of the Society for Journalism Enhancement Initiatives, Dr. Gbemiga Bamidele, urged media practitioners to strictly adhere to the code of conduct guiding journalism practice in Nigeria.

Other speakers at the event include Mr Adewumi Faniran, representative fi NTA Zona Manager and others

Participants at the seminar unanimously agreed that strengthening ethical journalism, promoting fact-checking, and enhancing media literacy remain critical to tackling fake news, safeguarding national security, and preserving public trust in the media.