Abel Leonard/ Lafia
The General Manager, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Lafia Mr. Sani Ibn-Salihu, Lafia says refusal by public officers to divulge information to journalists was one of the factor responsible of fake news in the country.
The GM stated this at a presentation titled, ‘De-marketing fake news’ at the public lecture on Wednesday in Lafia.
The public lecture was part of activities to mark the 2021 Press Week organised by the Nasarawa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
According to him, public officers often make themselves unavailable to clarify issues concerning their duties in their respective offices to journalists.
He said it is unfortunate to imagine that public officers are afraid to be accountable to the public.
He said the position is for public service and not private, therefore, occupance should see journalists as partners, adding that, it is through the media that public officer easily get across to the public.
He used the occasion to appealed to Nasarawa State Government to direct all Commissioners and head of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to always make themselves available to journalists as a way to be accountable to the public.
He explained that if they public are properly informed, it would go a long way to dispel fake news being paddle in the social media by non professionals.
The GM of NTA Lafia also challenged journalists to ensure they always dissiminate the truth so as to win public confidence so as to de-market fake news.
In his presentation, Musa Abdullahi, Deputy Director of News, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Headquarters, urged media professional to always report the truth to maintain their credibility.
He said journalists derogate themselves before news makers as they very important people in the society.
The Deputy Director of news of FRCN said journalists should focus intention in reporting activities in the rural areas and human angle stories so that they people would fill carry along.
On her part, Ladi Bala, National President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) said women are underrepresented in government business across the country.
The President of the entire women journalists in the country therefore, appealed to government at all levels to give women more opportunity to contribute to the development of the nation.
The public lecture also future questions and answers from journalists in the state on the challenges confronting the media industry.
