Today offers us yet two memorable events to roll together in our determined efforts to move our Union to greater heights. First is the inauguration of the 2014 Press Week Committee, and secondly is the distribution of the five (5) Toyota Haice Buses to benefiting Chapels as earlier donated to us by the State Governor, Chief (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON.
We wish therefore to welcome all our members, past chairmen of NUJ and our veterans, Chief Executives of media establishments and the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications for being part of this event. As a dedicated professional body, the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) will continue to do the needful in building a vibrant media to be responsive to the needs of the society and the Government.
With our ICT Resource Centre soon to be commissioned, we plan to also inaugurate a technical committee to handle our proposed Akwa Ibom Media Museum to chronicle our sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in the journalism profession. The purpose is to keep alive the memory of our literary giants and to commend their worthy lifestyles as instruments of mentorship for media practitioners and upcoming ones.
In this regards, the 2014 NUJ Press Week will therefore reward excellence. We will give recognitions to reporters, newscasters, editors, manager (News) and media establishments that have excelled outstandingly. We will also give special awards to individuals and Organisations with outstanding track records. We will therefore appeal to the 2014 NUJ Press Week Committee to carry out the task before it meticulously to meet our collective desire.
Let me again reiterate that journalism entails a high degree of public trust.
And to earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and every News medium to observe the highest professional and ethical standards. Journalists should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information. As the public depends on us for News feeds, it is obvious that whatever we publish, air or televise will certainly influence or determine the thinking of the people. That is the weight of the task before us and we have to do it responsibly.
Our reportage must conform to the laid down rules as contained in the Code of Ethics of the profession, otherwise, the society is bound to be misinformed or misled with false, unsubstantiated and ill-written information. And this could be disastrous. This is why we emphasise ethical compliance.
We appeal to institutions offering Mass Communications to deepen their tutorials on Media Laws and Ethics so as to sufficiently expose their students to the ethics of the profession.
It is also pertinent to appeal to public functionaries and politicians to place the interest of the State above primordial or sectional considerations. Politics of 2015 should not decimate our long cherished unity, love and togetherness as people of common stock and destiny.
The Media, as the Market place of ideas, will also remain neutral as unbiased umpire, especially as the 2015 political processes begin soon. The NUJ will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to carry out voters’ education so as to sufficiently enlighten our people on their rights to vote for a candidate of their choice in all leadership positions in the forthcoming 2015 Elections.
Again, we want to thank His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON for the five (5) Toyota Haice Buses donated to us on Friday, July 31, 2014 in fulfilment of his earlier promise made to the NUJ. By divine coincidence, I was the one, as chairman of Pioneer Chapel that made the request to the Governor during an interactive Forum on Thursday, January 17, 2013. To God be the glory. Governor Akpabio’s benevolence was loudly applauded at the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of NUJ at Benin, Edo State presided by its National President, Malam Mohammed Garba.
Benefiting Chapels are the Pioneer Chapel, State information Chapel, AKBC-TV Chapel, NTA Chanel 12 Chapel and the Consolidated Chapel. It is our desire to ensure that we secure more buses so as to get the remaining Chapels to benefit in order to aid our transport and welfare needs. We direct the benefiting Chapels to employ drivers, take good care of the vehicles and have them properly insured. The State Council have unhindered access to the Buses whenever overall welfare interest arises.
In order to tap into the wealth of experience of our past leaders, we will during the week of the Press Week inaugurate Forum of Past NUJ Chairmen. Today cannot be complete without yesterday, and tomorrow cannot be realistic without today. We cash on these compliments to build a formidable Union.
Good luck to members of the 2014 Press Week Committee and congratulations to benefiting Chapels. May God bless us all.
-Being an address by Elder Patrick Albert, Chairman, Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) Akwa Ibom State Council on the occasion of the inauguration of the 2014 Press Week Committee and distribution of five (5)
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