Renowned media manager, Victor Eniola Mark, has warned media practitioners not to leave the restructuring of the industry in the hands of politicians.
While calling for the licensing of journalists to end media quackery in the country, Mark, said leaving the process to the whims and caprices of politicians is dangerous as they might infiltrate the profession and erode its pride.
Mark, who is also the Chairman, Omoluabi Empire Holdings stated this after receiving an ’Outstanding Hero Award’ for his “outstanding contribution to the media profession,” from Radio Nigeria Zonal Network in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He noted that there is an urgent need for media stakeholders to come together to end quackery in the profession, adding that “anyone who suffers to learn his profession or trade will not want it toiled with for any reason.”
Mark said: “Professionals who suffered to grow and as well practise a profession or trade will not wish it taken over by quacks. I toiled to be a better person in this profession and I won’t be happy if it is taken over by quacks.”
He, however, said “the restructuring and facelift of the profession should not be handed over to our politicians, else they might infiltrate the profession and take away the pride of the system.
“Insecurity in the country and other vices will be drastically reduced if journalists are licensed. Because by doing that, the quacks amongst them, who are behind fake news will be edged out of the profession automatically.”
Speaking further, Mark said the journalist’s academic institution of graduation, the Nigeria Press Council and the National Assembly should be involved in creating a journalism licence for graduates.
“For me, the way to go is that the National Assembly should first pass a bill that makes that a law that every journalist in the must get a licence from Nigeria Press Council before he/she practices in the country.
“Meanwhile, before you can approach the NPC, you must have been given the first stage of licence from your institution which you will submit to NPC for further screening. If it is satisfied good, you will be issued with a provisional licence that the carrier will use for three years. If he did not violate any of the professional conduct during the cause of that provisional years, he can then be issued with a licence with which he will be practising in Nigeria.
“But that licence should be guided by the ethics of the profession as it should be withdrawable if its carrier refuses to uphold the ethics of the profession at any point. In all, every licensed journalist must have a place of work which can be held responsible for a professional’s action and inactions.”
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