This was stated by stakeholders of the media industry, during a one-day summit organised for media executives in the state, by the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The stakeholders also harped on the need for journalists to always strive to embrace training and retraining as a way to better themselves, especially in the era of social media.
The summit with the theme: objective reporting and unionism in the era social media had as participants chief executives of media organizations in Anambra State, and correspondents of national media organisations outside Anambra.
The resource persons drawn from journalists trainers in various tertiary institutions in the state, veteran media practitioners, and others took time to encourage journalists on the need ensure that the credibility of the media is not eroded, and also to stop social media practitioners from usurping the job of the media.
The speakers included: Prof Chinwe Uzochukwu, Dean of School of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Mr Emeka Ejide, Founder of a child Rights group, My Child my care. Discussants included Prof Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul University; Dr Henry Duru a lecturer in Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Mr Victor Agusiobo of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
Earlier, President of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo said: “We (journalists) must verify what we churn out. It is what we give to society that makes us credible, and if such credibility is allowed to be eroded, then we are no longer able to keep our respect.
“We must eschew fake news. Just one fake news is capable to causing security challenges, religious crisis, political crisis and others in the country. Today, we have people who call themselves social media influencers, who share without even verifying.
“No journalists worth his onions will share fake news. I always say it that journalists are not purveyors of fake news. Such mostly emanate from bloggers, online practitioners, social media influencers.”
