The Commissioner for Information, Abia State Government, High Chief John Okiyi Kalu aka. JOK has charged Journalists in the state to be factual, truthful and unbiased in their reportage.
Chief Okiyi Kalu gave this charge on the occasion of World Communication Day, organised by the Catholic Media Practitioners Association, Abia State Chapter, today, at Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Center.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information, Deaconess Caroline Igwe, JOK hammered on the need for every practising Journalist in the State and the country in general to always ensure that they’re constructive in their criticisms, while calling for the need to verify their facts before publication.
In his paper presentation on the theme”Come And See” the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri the Rev. Fr. Louismary Ocha called on media practitioners to abide by the ethics of the profession and avoid being used as an agent of destruction.
In his welcome address the Chairman Catholic Media Practitioners Association Sir Chimdi Oluoha said that the celebration which was as a result of product of Vatican 2 council 1962-1965 was designed to promote human dignity and urged journalists not to compromise standard in their reportage.
Contributing the DG BCA Sir Anyaso Anyaso represented by the Director News and Current Affairs Dept.BCA Comrade Hyacinth Okoli,Chairman NUJ Abia State Council Comrade Victor Ndukwe, Representative South East Chairman of RATTAWU, Comrade Ifeanyi Sunday and former SSG Pastor Ralph Egbu described Journalists as critical stakeholders in information management and enjoined to continue to wax strong in their profession.
Also Speaking the Station Manager Real FM Aba Mr Obinna Odowuike,Director of Communication Catholic Diocese of Umuahia the Rev Fr.Dr Leonard Ehiemere, and Mrs. Nwaka Amauwa urged media practitioners to always verify their information and disassociate themselves from unprofessional attitudes being witness recent time.
Meanwhile, the event which attracted the presence of representative of Chancellor Gregory University, Uturu, Rev. Fr. Donatus Asonye, practising and veteran Journalists in the state also featured good messages.
