The Bauchi state government has urged journalists to safeguard the country from the ills of fake news and hate speech.
The deputy governor, Alhaji Baba Tela, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Press Week of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi Council, on Tuesday in Bauchi.
Tela said that the country had confidence and also relied on conventional media organisations for relevant and accurate news reporting.
“I enjoin you to uphold objectivity, fairness, balance and accuracy as principles of the journalism profession in order to further reposition your career to safeguard the country from the ills of fake news and hate speech.”
He noted that the vices were gradually becoming the order of the day.
According to the deputy governor, the press week is timely, especially now that the country is facing various forms of challenges that require a responsive journalistic practice to forge ahead.
“Journalists in the state are lucky to have one of its members as the democratically elected governor of the state, hence the need to offer him the necessary support.
“Anything that falls short of support for him may be viewed as doing a disservice to the state and your colleague,” he said.
Tela said the state government had resolved to rejuvenate its media organisations, the Bauchi State Television and Radio Corporation.
The deputy governor reiterated the state government’s decision to reconstruct the NUJ Secretariat with a view to ensuring a very conducive environment for members to operate.
“Let me emphasise that the task of moving Bauchi State forward is a collective responsibility.
“So your continuous support is highly required in order to achieve our goals.
“The state government had within the last two years achieved a lot in terms of developmental projects.
“It will continue in that spirit until all the nooks and crannies of the state get their own share of democracy dividends,” the deputy governor said.
Earlier, Malam Umar Said, Chairman of the Council, explained that the council was committed to the training and retraining of its members across the state.
Said commended the state government for providing a conducive atmosphere and support for journalists to operate freely in the state.
In his remark, Alhaji Dayyibu Chiroma, the Commissioner for information, charged journalists to use what they would be learning from the press week lecture to promote peace and development in the state.
He also urged journalists to shun the activities of fake news and mischief reporting. (NAN)
