In an age where social media dictates the pace of information flow, journalists must resist the temptation of speed at the expense of accuracy, Professor of Strategic Communication, Media and Digital Literacy at the University of Lagos, Olunifesi Adekunle Suraj, has said.
He stated this during the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), 2025 Annual Regional Workshop with the theme “Public Trust & Ethical Journalism in the Digital Age”, in Lagos.
Organised for the students of Mass Communication of the university, the training is designed to build the capacity of journalists, media practitioners, and communication professionals to meet the ethical, professional, and civic expectations of journalism in today’s digital context specifically to promote adherence to ethical journalism principles in the digital age, including truthfulness, fairness, accuracy, objectivity, and respect for human dignity-aligned with the Nigerian Code of Ethics for journalists.
Enhance fact-checking skills and Digital Literacy to counteract the spread of misinformation and disinformation, especially in online and social media environments, thereby strengthening public confidence in the press. Reinforce the role of the media as a mass educator, empowering journalists to contribute positively to public discourse, civic engagement, national integration, and democratic development through informed and responsible reporting among others.
Speaking on the challenges confronting journalism in the digital era, Suraj who is also the University Consultant on Digital Media and Information Networks, noted that public trust in the media has declined globally, largely due to the proliferation of misinformation and unverified news online.
“The information environment people are exposed to today is not the same as when the media was the only authority in the information space,” he said. “Now, much of what circulates online is not fact-checked, and this has eroded trust in professional journalism.”
He stressed that fact-checking, once a cornerstone of journalism in the 1920s, must be revived and entrenched in newsrooms. “Journalists must debunk falsehoods, verify claims, and present truthful information if the profession is to regain credibility,” he added.
Suraj argued that while timeliness remains a critical factor in journalism, accuracy must take precedence. Comparing social media to “fast food” and professional journalism to a carefully prepared meal, he warned that rushing to break news without proper verification endangers media credibility. “If you break news that turns out to be false, you lose public trust, which is far more difficult to regain,” he said.
On the growing influence of social media users, particularly influencers and self-proclaimed “citizen journalists,” Suraj cautioned against equating them with trained professionals. “Not everyone who posts information online is a journalist. They may offer alternative narratives, but determining truth must remain the duty of trained journalists who understand ethics and fact-checking,” he emphasized.
The professor further underscored the need for journalists to be reskilled in digital literacy, multimedia reporting, and fact-checking techniques. “AI is not about truth; it is about monetisation and traffic,” he noted. “Journalists must therefore learn to navigate the digital space with critical skills, while also educating citizens to question and interrogate information online.”
He also called for a more engaged citizenry that participates actively in shaping public discourse by questioning misinformation and supporting fact-based narratives. Quoting former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, he said: “Every citizen, whether a farmer or a lawyer, must be an active participant, not a spectator.”
Suraj concluded that the survival of journalism in the digital age depends on its ability to prioritise accuracy, embrace fact-checking, and rebuild trust with the public. “If journalists could withstand censorship during the military era, then in a democratic era, they must retool themselves to face the new challenges posed by social media and online misinformation,” he said.
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Dili Ezugha, emphasised the need for continuous education of journalists, students, and the wider Nigerian populace to strengthen journalism ethics and restore public trust in the media.
Ezugha explained that the Council deliberately engages with mass communication students and campus journalists as part of its phased strategy to “catch them young” and instill professional values early.
“The children we have here are more conversant with new media than many of us. The problem we have in journalism today—integrity and truth—is rooted in new media. If we capture them early, even in citizen journalism, they can apply the rigors of traditional journalism,” he said.
The Executive Secretary noted that while practicing journalists remain critical, the Council’s model also prioritises the next generation. “We are going to universities across the country, including Bauchi, to ensure that journalism students imbibe ethics regardless of the medium they use tomorrow,” he added.
On the issue of misinformation, Ezugha cautioned that audiences must be educated not to take everything at face value. “Not every story is the truth. News may be influenced by economic, political, religious, or tribal agendas. This is why fact-checking and double-checking are essential,” he explained.
Addressing leadership influence on journalism practice, the NPC boss acknowledged that political and personal influences are inevitable but stressed professionalism as the safeguard.
“At every point, we are influenced—sometimes by ourselves, sometimes by leadership or institutions. But the core thing is professionalism. A true professional can translate across print, broadcast, and online, while upholding the same ethical standards,” he noted.
He further warned against quackery in journalism, stressing that those without proper training risk undermining the profession. “There are standards that must be met. If you’re a quack, you will have issues with credibility. Education and training are non-negotiable.”
On artificial intelligence (AI), Ezugha described it as both a tool and a form of control. He recalled the evolution of journalism from bromide printing to digital technology, urging practitioners to quickly learn how AI affects production.
“AI is not ours; it is European. It influences us in ways we may not realise. Even navigation tools censor how we pronounce our street names. Whether we like it or not, something is always influencing us as professionals,” he said.
Ezugha insisted that the NPC’s mandate remains focused on educating both practicing and aspiring journalists, as well as the general public, to ensure that media integrity and truth remain central in the digital era.
