World TV Day: Journalists urged to rid profession of charlatans

Journalists in Nigeria have been urged to rid the media profession of charlatans that are giving it a bad name and plunging the country into avoidable crisis through their sensational and emotionally-charged reporting.

This advice was handed down by a former Ogun State correspondent of Murhi International Television (MiTV) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, Babatunde Adeyemo, at an event organised to commemorate the 2023 World Television Day in Abeokuta.

While lamenting that people without requisite professional or on-the-job training in journalism and mass communication have taken over the media space, Adeyemo urged professionals to take complete control of the profession from quacks in the interest of peace, harmony, national stability and cohesion.

Once this is done, he noted that journalism is a veritable tool to manage and resolve conflict, curb vices, build an egalitarian society, enthrone quality governance, accountability in government and effectively promote national harmony, peace and stability.

“Unfortunately, maybe because we are always busy trying to file 10 reports per day, we do not really encourage to have in-depth thoughts on how we can utilise the opportunities (provided by the online media) by ourselves.

“That is why you see some people that did not study either journalism or mass communication making millions of money from our own inheritance.

“I want to urge all of us to take the profession back from (charlatans) and after we have taken it back, we will now be reporting professionally. That is when we will be able to use it as a tool to curb vices in the nation,” he said.

The event organised by the Consolidated Chapel of the Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had the theme ‘Television: A Strategic Tool for Conflict Management and Nation Building’.

Speakers at the event include Secretary to the Ogun State government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi and CEO of WFM 91.7 Arepo, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya.

Also at the event, Adeyemo and dignitaries including Ogun NUJ chairman, Wale Olanrewaju; pioneer chairman of the Consolidated Chapel, Kazeem Olowe; Baale Arulogun Oja in Oyo State, Olawale Taofeek and Special Adviser to Ogun State governor, Mr Kayode Akinmade, among others.

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