Beware of sensational news reportage — media handlers charged
Media handlers have been charged to be wary of sensational news that can misinform members of the public about the State government and its activities.
The Chief press secretary to Osun State Governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan.
made this remark at a day media workshop organised for reporters, broadcasters, journalists and information officers in the state.
The workshop which was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Osun State Chapter in collaboration with the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife was held at the conference hall of the centre.
The chief Press Secretary advocated for building the image of the Government through credible reportage
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The Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Osun State chapter Mr Ademola Adesoji in his welcome remark appealed to Nigerians to paint her Image well since there is no country without its own challenges.
Dr Rasheed Adebiyi, a Mass Communication Lecturer at fountain University delves into Solution Journalism (SOJO) and encouraged media practitioners to always help the nation by saying positive things about the country rather than emphasising the negative side of the Government’s administration.
According to him, all those developed countries have their own problems but you won’t see them echoing such deformities but the opposite is the case in Nigeria.
Mr Godfrey Adejumoh, the head of corporate communications at Unilever Nigeria PLC, in his virtual lecture appealed for constructive criticism and the use of positive and creative stories of famous and diligent people in the society to project a good image of the society.
Mr Isaac Oluyi the Public Relations Officer, National Centre for Technology, in his paper titled ‘A peep into Science Communication” expressed his displeasure on inadequate reportage of science-related news.
‘Despite the fact that science is indispensable, it is not given due attention at various media desks’ Mr Oluyi added.
He, therefore, admonished media handlers to start creating awareness and stimulating the interest of people either through storytelling or statistics for an adequate understanding of the centre’s activities.
In attendance at the workshop are the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yemisi Opalola; Immediate past Chairman of Osun State NIPR and former Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information and Civic Engagement, Alhaji Adebisi Popoola; among other public relations officers in the state and host of others.
