Otiti Urges Political Aides, Journalists to Respect WhatsApp Media Pioneers in Delta

The rapid rise of WhatsApp journalism in Delta State is generating fresh calls for professionalism, recognition and responsible information sharing. Media practitioner Otiti has urged young journalists and political aides to respect the pioneers who helped establish WhatsApp as a tool for news distribution in the state.

WhatsApp journalism in Delta State refers to the use of WhatsApp media platforms to distribute news and public information. Otiti has urged journalists and political media aides to respect practitioners who pioneered the use of WhatsApp for journalism in the state while promoting verification, professionalism and responsible information sharing.

Otiti made the call while reacting to the growing use of WhatsApp media platforms by journalists and political media aides across Delta State.

According to him, the widespread adoption of WhatsApp for journalism should not erase the contributions of practitioners who introduced and developed the platform as a channel for news and public information.

Otiti claimed that he was the first to establish WhatsApp media platforms for journalism in Delta State, long before the practice became common among journalists and other media practitioners.

«“Today, creating WhatsApp media platforms has become the norm for practicing journalists, but we must give credit to those who started the practice. I was the first to create WhatsApp media platforms in Delta State, before it became widespread and before LeapTV came into the scene,” he said.»

He also cautioned journalists and political media aides, particularly those working on retainership for politicians, against indiscriminate publication and circulation of information on WhatsApp platforms.

Otiti alleged that some political actors were encouraging the spread of false information through multiple WhatsApp channels in an attempt to influence public opinion.

He, therefore, urged media practitioners to remain professional and ensure that information is properly verified before it is published or circulated.

According to him, political interests should not be allowed to compromise journalistic standards or turn digital platforms into channels for spreading unverified claims.

He further stressed the importance of established WhatsApp media networks in determining the reach of news and other publications.

Otiti maintained that journalists and media practitioners who have invested time and effort in building credible WhatsApp media platforms should be recognised and respected.

«“Let us be careful in the discharge of our duties. We should respect those who laid the foundation and contributed to the development of WhatsApp journalism in Delta State,” Otiti warned.»

He urged young journalists and political media aides to uphold professional ethics, verify claims before publication and avoid using WhatsApp platforms to circulate misleading or unverified information.

Why This Matters

As WhatsApp has become an important channel for news distribution, the responsibility to verify information has also increased. Therefore, journalists and political media aides are expected to balance speed with accuracy, especially when political interests are involved.