By Tony Okafor
There is growing concern that journalism is drifting from its core principles and sliding dangerously close to becoming an arm of publicity.
This development has eroded both the integrity of the profession and the public’s trust in the media.
Journalism exists to uncover truths, hold government accountable, and give space to diverse voices. It is built on fact-based reporting, ethical rigour, and a commitment to the public interest.
Publicity, by contrast, is about promotion—selling an image, pushing an agenda, or elevating an individual. The two may share the tools of communication, but their purposes are fundamentally different.
The danger comes when journalism begins to mirror publicity. Once news stories read like press releases, credibility collapses. Audiences start to wonder: Is this meant to inform me, or to manipulate me? That blurring strips journalism of its watchdog role.
When publicity masquerades as journalism, competing perspectives are silenced in favour of a single narrative serving private interests. Reporters face pressure to prioritize hype over substance, eroding their professional ethics.
To guard against this decline, journalists and media organizations must recommit to the highest standards of the craft. They must resist the temptation—and the pressure—of press secretaries and corporate publicists who would rather feed the public sanitized talking points than hard truths.
Journalism is not, and must never become, a wing of publicity. Its power lies in its independence: the ability to inform, critique, and engage the public meaningfully.
Publicity sells an image; journalism interrogates reality. The line between the two must be drawn clearly and defended fiercely—for without it, journalism loses its soul.
Journalism’s duty is to truth, not to power, profit, or praise. The line between reporting and publicity must be held with courage and clarity. If that courage offends the powerful, so be it. Publish and be damned.
