BEVERLY HILLS, March 22, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Blueprint Newspapers Media Conglomerate, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has urged media organisations to avoid ethnic and religious colorations in reporting security challenges in the country.
He said journalists should shun stories that celebrate criminals in the reportage of prevailing insecurity in the country.
Idris stated this at the weekend during a seminar he delivered at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council Press Week in Minna.
In the lecture titled, “Media and Insecurity: Niger State Perspective,” the Blueprint Chairman said the media had been playing a pivotal role in ensuring the peace and stability of the nation in addition to sustaining the nation’s democracy.
He said: “The media remain the most powerful institution trusted by the people even in this period of insecurity. Therefore, our stories should not celebrate criminals. The media must be careful about ethnic, religious and racial inclinations in reporting criminal actions.”
Represented by Jibrin Baba Ndace, former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, Idris said the media should not shy away from its constitutional responsibility but continue to partner with relevant authorities towards enduring peace in the nation.
He said, “Media have continued to play a key role in the peace and development of the nation.”
He added that journalists would always be mindful of the impact of their stories on the society.
Also speaking at the event, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, commended the state’s Governor Sani Bello for the focus on curbing banditry attacks in the state.
The NUJ President described the guest lecturer as a versatile media manager whose lecture at the event had further empowered journalists towards effective reporting of the prevailing security challenges in the country.
He enjoined journalists to always report security issues from the bold perspective of achievements recorded rather than focusing on issues instilling fear in the minds of the people, adding, “if we report fears, people will be engrossed in fears.”
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