BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO
Happy WorldPress Freedom Day!
The World Press Freedom Day popularly known as World Press Day is one of the calendar events planned, organised and promoted by the United Nations, and observed annually on May 3.
On this day, 9News Nigeria journalists join the rest of the world to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom in Nigeria and around the world. We uphold the responsibility to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
George Orwell once said freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.” Sometimes some persons turn around to criticize oppose carelessly without facts and Journalist are adviced to talk stock to peddle information correctly.
On this world press freedom day, we salute all the media personnel who are constantly sending us the first hand information about the happenings around the world.
The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day or just World Press Day, observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary all over the world.
Meanwhile, this year’s press freedom day is on a low key pending prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and the level of insecurity bedevilling our land in virtually all the states of the federation.
The press are expectedly be given precise information and when the press are quoting they are expected to quote correctly.
Journalist are expected to self-sensor their reports and information which is the ban of the NIGERIAN media. State the facts and deduce yourself from the story or reportage.
The freedom will help us to x-ray the level of decay and Improvement so far established.Practioners are expected to know the laws of press practice and be able to dress good and speak soundly before the public.
Practitioners are also expected to look descent and play in the ethical stance of Journalism.
If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
Information is important and the freedom of the press is paramount. How well has the media been represented and the fault of the media makes the profession conflicting.
Courage, fairness, balancing of reportage and investigative accumen of a the press should not be taking for granted. It help build the industry.
Every society is peculiar because what goes around in Imo may not be tenable in Lagos or other states.
A state like Imo needs developmental Journalism and the practitioners must embrace this fact. We could do better and be factual of the information.
Freedom of press is a top notch and the industry is expected to embrace and train more upcomers to face the reality of the press work.
Conventional Journalists must justify the content of stories the copy from the media before publishing.
The NUJ is expected to Improve the industry and resolve AILLING issues to grow the press.
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526
