Journalists in Delta State have been commended for applying professionalism to their reportage, and information dissemination.
The Director General, Delta State Bureau of Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, gave the commendation when he hanged out with members of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Sunday in Asaba.
Dr. Oghenesivbe noted that the Delta NUJ ranked among the best in the country in terms of unity, organisation and moral integrity, adding that some members of the union had proven to be masters of their profession by pushing out credible information to the public.
He explained that the State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, was happy with the performance of Journalists in the state, and the cordial relationship existing between them and the State Government, which he said should be sustained.
The DG pointed out that government was not against criticisms, especially from the media, but insisted that such criticisms must be constructive and based on verifiable facts.
Dr. Oghenesivbe, a full member of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, ACSPN, cautioned some online media platforms in the state, which had tended to undermine ethics in their contents, saying that identifying a medium with fake news or misinformation was not only injurious to the source wrongly reported or misquoted, but also to the credibility of the medium.
He urged Journalists to seek clarifications on any issue concerning the State Government primarily from the Commissioner for Information or the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, adding, however, that other Information Managers, including himself and the Manager Communications could also be reached when necessary.
Dr. Oghenesivbe pledged to continually collaborate with media practitioners in the state in sharing ideas, concerns and pains in the line of duty, which the hang out was also designed to achieve, adding that the State Orientation and Communications Bureau is willing and ready to partner with the State Council of NUJ, whenever the need arises.
“Some of these stories ought to have been verified. We have different people handling information in the State and the head, is the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza. He’s also the Chairman of the State Information Management Council.
“Our colleagues in the media (Journalists) can always call to find out about certain issues, and we are always willing to explain and throw more light on the issues.
“Professionals like you are gatekeepers, whether you are a news editor, publisher, sub editor as the case maybe. The responsibility is such that when the story or press statement comes, your duty is to lok at it. Then, you find out from the government to know whether it is the truth. This is very important, going forward.
“And by the time you now marry the two sides of the story together, you ready to give Deltans the correct information. Misinformation, is not good for the person you are talking about, it is not also good for the image of the medium.
“So, I want to appeal to us, before we put anything out concerning the government of this state, particularly this administration, crosscheck those facts with some of us.
“We won’t hide anything. You are the watchdog of the society. It is your duty to put out the correct information”.
He charged the media to have a more cordial relationship with the state government as the media remains partners in progress.
Earlier while welcoming Dr. Oghenesivbe, the Chairman, NUJ, Delta State Council, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, noted that he had been a good Information Manager, having served as Executive Assistant on Communications in the immediate past administration of Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and as Executive Assistant on Orientation and Communications to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, before his elevation to the position of Director General, Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, DSOCB.
Comrade Oyowe pledged the readiness of Journalists in the state to partner with the Bureau in driving its programmes and urged the DG to carry members of the union along in the scheme of things.
