Alkaleri (Bauchi): Stakeholders have called on journalists to promote national interest, ethical standards, and responsible reporting in Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
The call was made at the technical session of the maiden Bauchi State Media Summit, which was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Bauchi Council and held at Yankari Game Reserve.
In a paper presentation, Dr Aminu Makama-Abubakar, a University lecturer, urged media professionals to be guardians of truth and nation-builders.
In his paper “Journalism in a Democracy: Upholding National Interest as a Civic Duty,” Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) lecturer tasked journalists with holding power accountable.
“They must do so without jeopardising national unity and security,” he stressed.
Reminding journalists of their immense power to shape public perception, Makama-Abubakar called for restraint against sensationalism and misinformation in a politically and economically challenging environment.
Makama-Abubakar thus outlined seven practical strategies for balancing press freedom with national stability, including promoting peace, verifying sensitive stories, and resisting political manipulation.
On his part, Dr Shuaibu Leman, former NUJ National Secretary, warned against fake news and hate speech, which he described as dangerous to national cohesion.
He lamented that Nigerian journalists were constrained by poor salary structures and editorial interference and urged practitioners to uphold moral and ethical principles despite systemic challenges.
Mr Shehu Usman, Bauchi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, commended the NUJ for its foresight in organising the summit when the media landscape was expanding rapidly.
He described the summit as a platform for frank discussion and collective action to address the profession’s emerging challenges.
A participant, Mrs Adama Ibrahim, highlighted that, despite difficulties, democracy remained the best system for a free press to thrive.
She called on leaders to embrace the media as partners in progress and urged journalists to act as stabilisers and voices of reason amid societal divisions.