National Impact Warning: Journalists Advised To Be Mindful Of The Country’s Well-being (Full Details)

Journalists have been warned to exercise caution in their reporting, with Professor of Mass Communication, Umar Pate, emphasizing the potential catastrophic consequences of a single careless sentence on an entire country. Speaking at an awards ceremony in Yola, Pate urged journalists to verify their facts before publishing, underscoring the immense responsibility they hold….CONTINUE READING

In his presentation titled “The Media, Social Media and National Security: Balancing the Free Flow of Information with Responsible Journalism in Nigeria” at the TGNews Awards 2024, Prof. Pate, who currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, stressed the gravity of journalistic errors. He drew a parallel with other professions, noting that while an engineer’s mistake might lead to a building collapse, a journalist’s error could potentially cause societal collapse.

Addressing the detrimental impact of fake or unbalanced news, Pate highlighted the exacerbation of the situation by the emergence of “emergency journalists” facilitated by social media. He expressed concern about the ease with which misinformation spreads through platforms where individuals, regardless of the quality or source of information, can quickly share content.

Pate stated, “Emergency journalism is responsible for many security issues,” emphasizing that the proliferation of false information on platforms like Facebook contributes to online and offline crises, poisoning public perceptions and fueling conflicts.

The professor recommended a radical approach to addressing quack journalism and the reckless dissemination of false news in Nigeria. His call for responsible journalism aligns with the need to combat the negative impact of misinformation on national security.

The TGNews Awards 2024 honored various personalities, including Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, former governor Jibrilla Bindow, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Nigeria’s first female admiral, Jamila Malafa (retd), Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, LCCN, Musa Filibus, and other notable figures from different sectors.