Media Group Berates Poor Social Media Practices

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Declining integrity and abuse of ethics by some media practitioners both in the digital and mainstream Nigerian media space have attracted the attention of a group of senior media practitioners who have called for a quick intervention to stem the obnoxious trend.

The call was made Thursday, July 13 in Lagos at the maiden rendezvous of the Network for Media Excellence, NME, a group promoting professionalism and ethical practices in the Nigerian media.

The NME, consisting of seasoned media practitioners, frowned at the unprofessional conduct of some practitioners, especially on new media platforms, while advocating for an establishment of corrective processes to promptly challenge the spread.

“The continuous abuse by some media amateurs, especially bloggers who claim to practice citizen journalism, is creating disturbing ethical challenges in our beloved profession. There is the need for senior media managers to provide ethical compass and promote professionalism so as to arrest this dangerous trend,” said Femi Akintunde-Johnson, seasoned journalist and convener of NME.

Also speaking at the rendezvous, Dr. Kunle Hamilton, President, ShaddaiVille Ministries and former editor at ThisDay, called on practitioners not to fold hands and allow their profession be dragged in the mud by charlatans masquerading as journalists.

In his contribution, Mr. Gboyega Okegbenro, a sports journalism veteran & CEO of Peachtree Communications, called for concerted and pragmatic efforts towards rescuing the profession, while enjoining NME to rise up to its vision of advancing the understanding of media law and ethics in Nigeria.

Other discussants at the rendezvous included Mr. Mayor Akinpelu, Publisher, Global Excellence; Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director, International Press Centre; Mr. Akin Adeoya, Publisher, M2 & CEO, Marketing Mix; Mr. Tokunbo Modupe, CEO, TPT International; Actor/Producer Patrick Doyle; Mayor Akinpelu, Publisher, Global Excellence Online; Joe Dudun, foremost Scriptwriter; Yemi Akinbode, MD, Transnegotiation Inc; Tosin Ajirire, Group Entertainment Editor, The Sun; Funsho Arogundade, Associate Editor, P.M.EXPRESS; Nseobong Okon-Ekong, Deputy Editor, ThisDay; Kingsley Momoh (Guguru FM); Folarin Ademosu, Editor, Newsbreak.ng; Azuh Arinze, Publisher, Yes! International magazine; and Mike Effiong, Editor, Ovation International magazine.

The NME, at the rendezvous, assured that it would step up to promote best media practices across traditional and social media platforms through open and covert engagements, advocacy and training where possible.

Meanwhile, the group took time out to recognise and fete two of its distinguished members, Tokunbo Modupe, for receiving the “PR Practitioner of the Decade” award recently, and Lanre Arogundade whose birthday coincided with the rendezvous.

During the reception which had Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, as one of the guests of honour,  the group’s convener, Akintunde-Johnson, congratulated the two gentlemen and wish them continuous success.