In continuation of its Annual zonal Workshop and capacity building for Journalists in Nigeria, the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) organized the 2025 Annual Zonal Workshop with the theme “Public Trust and Ethical Journalism in the Digital Age” for the North Central Zone consisting of Benue, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The workshop which took place at the Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State brought together participants from the academia, media houses, media regulators and student journalists.
The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Dr. Dili Ezughah, while declaring the workshop open, reminded stakeholders of the sensitivity of the media industry and tasked them to use their various media to promote “public peace, public order, national development and entrepreneurship”.
He decried the negative effect of information distortion, fake news and unethical practices.
According to him, “The need to comply with the code of ethics of the profession cannot be over-emphasized. It makes the practice of journalism a profession. It creates a peaceful environment for social exchange and ultimately impacts society on social cohesion and development”.
This, the Executive Secretary said, “resonates very well with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s desire for a continued free, responsible and accountable journalism practice under his administration”.
Dr. Santas Tsegyu, an associate Professor and Head of Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Nasarawa State University, in his presentation entitled, “The Media as a Mass Educator”, highlighted the functions of the mass media in society and described communication as the oxygen fueling human activities.
He added that the mass media was the only means “that provides education to a large number of people at the same time”. Professor Tsegyu urged media professionals to provide education in the areas of politics, academics and the economy, stressing the importance of persuasive communication “for government policies and programmes to be accepted by the people”.
In his lecture, “Embracing Fact-Checking to Enhance Public Trust”, Mr. Sam Akpe, Editor at Large/Columnist at Niche Newspaper, said that fact-checking was nothing new in journalism, adding that the advent of internet, citizen journalism and widespread fake news and disinformation increased the need for fact checking. Mr. Ape advised that every story submitted by reporters must be subjected to scrutiny to ensure that it met ethical standard.
Dr. Desmond Okocha, Associate Professor and Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Bingham University, Nasarawa State, while discussing the topic, “Ethical Journalism and the Cyber Space”, pointed out that “Journalism is not free speech. It is constrained expression. It works in a framework of values and it has a purpose. It is a public good. It shapes the society”. He added that the integrity of the media was dependent on adherence to ethical and professional standard in journalism.
In his closing remarks and vote of thanks, the Director, Research and Documentation, NPC, Mr. Dan Ede, emphasized the importance of integrity in journalism. He likened the media to the financial institutions that are integrity driven. According to him, “if a financial institution breached the trust of a customer, that customer would likely look elsewhere for the same services. Likewise, if a news organ became known for fake news and misinformation, it would lose its audience”.
Mr. Ede continued: “Striped of all technicalities, when you talk of integrity, you are talking about trustworthiness; you are talking about credibility; you are talking about honesty; you are talking about reliability; you are talking about authority of confidence. The media should serve as a source of credible information. People should take the information they get from the media like an article of faith”.
He thanked the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr. Dili Ezughah, whom he said had been driven a silent revolution in the Council since he came on board.
He equally thanked the Directors of the NPC for their time, the authorities and the students of Bingham University; and the conveners, for putting up a programme that speaks of class and quality.
written by: Oliver Ejike Uja
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