As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2018 World Communication Day, the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr Femi Adesina, has tasked Nigeria media to practice journalism for peace.
Speaking to journalists after a holy mass at the Catholic Church of the Assumption, Asokoro, Adesina said the theme for the celebration: “Journalism of Peace,” was apt. According to him, the media have a responsibility to uphold the peace in the country because, “This the only country we have and if the media carry news that destroys the country we won’t have another country.”
The presidential spokesperson further stated that fake news thrives because there are those who originate fake news, while others propagate it by sharing and circulating without verifying the information. In his homily during the mass, Archdiocesan Communication Director for the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Rev. Fr. Patrick Alumuku, said the Communication Day was an opportunity to celebrate the media. Alumuku, who also represented the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said the Nigeria media deserved to be celebrated because they play important role in nation building as well as sustenance of democracy in the country.
While stating that there was need for cordial relationship between the government and the media, he said that a situation where information is not readily available fuels speculation on the part of the media. The Catholic Pontiff , Pope Francis in his message for 52nd World Communications Day also charged media practitioners to shun fake news and report news that would promote unity and peace of the society.
The pope’s message, condemned irresponsible journalism that, “seeks to divide society and create acrimony amongst people and prefers journalism that upholds the virtues of society.” The Catholic Pontiff , who said journalism should be used positively to build society rather than destroy it, regretted that most media practitioners deliberately distorted information to achieve personal gains.
