World Press Freedom: PMB, Senate President Task Media on Responsible Press Freedom
BUHARI
President Muhammadu Buhari and the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan have called on the media to ensure that press freedom is based on resposibility for the interest of the country.
In a statement to mark today’s World Press Freedom, President through his media adviser, Mr Femi Adesina, said his administration was committed to the freedom of the press.
He said that in such freedom, journalists must be responsible in their practice, adding that democracy cannot advance smoothly without the press.
Part of the statement reads, “That everything is permitted does not mean that there are no rules of correctness, particularly in a polity seriously challenged as ours now.
“The media must be sensitive to what we are going through as a country, and anything that would exacerbate the situation, and further inflame passions and emotions should be avoided. The media needs to ensure that while informing, educating, entertaining, and setting agenda for public discourse, it does not encourage incendiary words and actions that could further hurt our unity in diversity.”
The Senate President in his message urged journalists to purge the system of those who have been giving bad image to the profession.
He said, “The leadership organs of the profession also need to adopt practical measures to check the activities of the purveyors of fake news. My belief is that the menace of fake news is capable of eroding the integrity and credibility of the media in general, and this should not be allowed to happen.
“I also celebrate the Nigerian journalists for the invaluable contributions and sacrifices that they have made throughout our national history to nation-building and entrenchment of democracy.
“I pay tribute to the patriots who have lost their lives in the line of duty and pray that their death will not be in vain.”
In a statement to mark today’s World Press Freedom, President through his media adviser, Mr Femi Adesina, said his administration was committed to the freedom of the press.
He said that in such freedom, journalists must be responsible in their practice, adding that democracy cannot advance smoothly without the press.
Part of the statement reads, “That everything is permitted does not mean that there are no rules of correctness, particularly in a polity seriously challenged as ours now.
“The media must be sensitive to what we are going through as a country, and anything that would exacerbate the situation, and further inflame passions and emotions should be avoided. The media needs to ensure that while informing, educating, entertaining, and setting agenda for public discourse, it does not encourage incendiary words and actions that could further hurt our unity in diversity.”
The Senate President in his message urged journalists to purge the system of those who have been giving bad image to the profession.
He said, “The leadership organs of the profession also need to adopt practical measures to check the activities of the purveyors of fake news. My belief is that the menace of fake news is capable of eroding the integrity and credibility of the media in general, and this should not be allowed to happen.
“I also celebrate the Nigerian journalists for the invaluable contributions and sacrifices that they have made throughout our national history to nation-building and entrenchment of democracy.
“I pay tribute to the patriots who have lost their lives in the line of duty and pray that their death will not be in vain.”
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