…urges media to promote discipline, justice, peace
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, the Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye has called on journalists to stop using their platforms to promote, political and religious leaders with dubious and other questionable characters.
Bishop Ajakaye who spoke during a media summit, organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Council explained that the media being a powerful tool, should be used responsibly towards promoting justice, peace, stability, dialogue, harmony and mutual understanding.
According to Bishop Ajakaye, the media should spearhead the critical war against indiscipline and corruption and expose the culprits instead of giving them awards
He condemned situations where the media concentrate on political activities which he described as mere distraction perhaps due to financial gains, rather than focusing on critical issues that has to do with the well-being of the society.
He said:”Journalists must be people of honour, people of integrity, who uphold the dignity of the human person. It is then they will be able to use the media in the right way, thereby, people will be very much attracted to them and gradually overcoming the challenges they, the journalists are encountering.
“Discrimination, fake news and hate speech should not have any place in the media. They are negative, evil, destructive. In fact, they are plagues. They are not healthy at all.
The Bishop warned against negative projection of the country due to its consequences.
“Concerting our beloved country, Nigeria, let us put an end to the habit of disparaging her, seeing and presenting her in negative ways as if she is good-for-nothing. I tell you here that if one disparages one’s country, one is equally disparaging oneself, because Nigeria is Nigerians, Nigerians are Nigeria. Let us change our negative attitude towards our country.
Since the role of the communicating media transcends the issue of religion, tribal or political inclinations, it behoves the practitioners of this noble profession to discharge their duties with all-purpose intent of promoting love and protecting the integrity of humanity for the glory of God.
“Media practitioners need to use their time, talents and resources to unite and uplift our country. Bearing this in mind, they will strive not to engage in ‘arm-chair’ journalism, whereby some journalists tend to sit in one place and imagine or concoct news and present such as real to the people.
” They are urged to have new orientation in their works and imbibe the culture of positive work ethic while upholding investigative journalism. In this light, they will be concrete and positive in their packages and contents as they focus on the people and their lives.
If the media maintain their dissemination and promotion of ideas analytically, without any undue influence, they will be sowing the seeds of religious tolerance, true love, peaceful co-existence, justice and development, which are ingredients for the survival of any society.
Earlier, the Chairman of NUJ in Ekiti State, Kayode Babatuyi said the summit was to brainstorm on how best to operate towards building a better society.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of award of excellence to the Bishop by the union in recognition of his contributions to National development.
