The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University Oyo, Professor Muyiwa Popoola has charged journalists in the country to adhere to safety measures especially as the country approaches its electioneering season.
He further stated that journalists are backed up by law to perform their social responsibility without any form of hindrance while stating that 9000 practicing journalists have lost their lives between 2002 and 2023.
He said, “As journalists, our fate lies in our hand, there is no news story either exclusive or scoop worth the life of any journalist and as far as politics is concerned, violence is bound to occur. Journalists need to perform their responsibility with the required freedom without any form of hindrance because they have a duty to work within the ambit of the law.
Continuing, he said “the issue of attack, subjection may continue and UNESCO is taking proactive measures to reduce the rate of journalists’ attacks and brutality in the country”.
Professor Popoola stated this during a lecture he delivered on Tuesday at NUJ Secretariat, Iyaganku Ibadan to commemorate the celebration of World Press Day with title, ‘Journalism Under Digital Siege’
The Don further charged media practitioners to evaluate news sources before publishing in order not to work against the ethics of the profession, stating that the proliferation of social media outlets has led to increase in fake news.
Professor Popoola, however, urged Nigerian journalists to improve on their relationship and public trust among the members of the public.
Speaking further, Comrade Demola Babalola, Oyo NUJ Chairman, stated that journalists in the country are still subjected to brutal attacks and abuse in the country while warning that the journalism profession is under siege because of the manipulations of Nigerian political leaders.
He noted that “Political parties are setting up media channels to launch negative attack on one another”.
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