Journalists must stand against attacks – Edetaen Ojo

Agency Reporter

The Executive Director of the Media Rights Agenda and Steering Committee Chairman of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange Committee, Edetaen Ojo, has urged journalists to prioritize reporting and combating against their colleagues in the process of doing their work.

He stated this during a Tweetchat with the Digital Literacy Advocacy Club, while speaking on the theme “media literacy as a tool for media freedom”, he noted that many of those doing journalism are not guided by an ethic.

“Many of those who are really thriving in the information gathering and distribution business today have no journalism training and are not guided by any ethical or professional code, which creates a huge challenge for the media sector and journalism profession” Edetaen stated.

He also expressed concern that many government bodies do not appreciate the role and power of the media.

“Unfortunately, although many governments appear to appreciate the role and power of the media and are therefore terrified of the media, they do not respect the media institutions and simply want to control the media by any means possible, including by repressing it”.

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The media rights advocate said natural human instincts provides for self-preservation and journalists should follow this guide in doing their work.

“Ironically and contrary to the natural human instinct for self-preservation, many journalists seem more interested in reporting and combating violations of the rights of others than covering and challenging the violation of their rights or the rights of colleagues” he opined.

“The business of media practice in Nigeria is not a very lucrative one because most members of the public no not really spend on the media. So we are partly responsible for the poor economic situation of media houses. But being paid well and having freedom are not alternatives”.

He stressed that media freedom is possible if stakeholders put hands together towards fighting the cause.

“I believe that media freedom is feasible in any country if the stakeholders, including ordinary citizens, desire it and are willing to fight for it. There is already a strong legal framework at the international level to support this” he said.