BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO –
Media Relations Consultant, Chief Fidel Onyeneke has appealed to Media Practitioners in Nigeria to use this period of Independence anniversary to reflect over the performances of the media with a view to determining whether they have lived up to expectations.
In a message to mark the Country’s 61st independence, Chief Onyeneke observed with dismay that after 61 years of Independence, the Nigerian media industry was bedevilled with self-censorship, lack of courage and other unethical practices.
He recalled that the founding fathers of Nigeria used the media courageously to fight colonial imperialism, and secure independence for the country.
According to Onyeneke, the current crop of media practitioners appear not to have learned much from the Journalism foundations laid by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo amongst others who liberated Nigerians through honest and selfless journalism practices.
Chief Onyeneke decried the situation where Nigerian Journalists allowed undue influence by top politicians and other financial inducements to becloud their sense of judgment in carrying out their professional duties.
He urged the media people to always exhibit high ethical standards in order to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of the masses.
In furtherance, he stated that for the media to serve as a veritable tool between the government and the governed, it must carry out its social responsibilities with utmost honesty, courage and truthfulness.
While urging the fourth estate of the realm to remain unbiased and shun sentiments as they work for the unity, peace and progress of the Country, Onyeneke reinstated his call on proprietors of Media houses to always provide a conducive atmosphere for the media workers through the provision of enhanced salaries and allowances for them as a deliberate effort to boost their productivity.
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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