Otu, VON DG demand ethical reorientation in broadcast media

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River state and Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, have called for urgent ethical reorientation of Nigeria’s broadcast media, warning that declining professional standards and poorly verified content could have far-reaching consequences for society.

The duo spoke in Calabar on Thursday at the 82nd General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), where they challenged media practitioners to uphold accuracy, balance, responsibility and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Governor Otu, who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, said BON had a critical role to play in promoting and enforcing professional standards across both public and private radio and television stations.

“Among the many responsibilities of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, one of the most important is the promotion and enforcement of professional standards across both public and private radio and television stations,” he said.

Otu noted that the need for ethical reorientation had become more urgent in view of the “observable decline in professional standards among some operators.”

“When irresponsible, divisive or poorly verified content is allowed to dominate the airwaves, it can deepen social polarisation and expose young minds to conflicting and harmful ideologies,” the governor warned.

He urged BON to “develop practical frameworks that strengthen ethical broadcasting, promote responsible editorial judgment and ensure greater accountability for the content transmitted to the public through radio and television.”

Also speaking, the VON DG, Mallam Ndace, charged journalists to uphold professionalism, particularly when reporting political and security-related issues.

“The traditional media, either public or private, has the responsibility to hold the ground by being professional. When you are reporting politics, don’t malign anybody, don’t undermine individual states or any individual in the race; be balanced,” he said.

Ndace urged journalists covering security matters to exercise restraint and compassion, stressing the need for senior editorial officers to take responsibility for reports emanating from the field.

“When you are reporting security issues, report it with compassion, report it with love. So for us, we have to be professional, and that’s why I call on our colleagues, particularly those of us who are at the strategic level, when incidents happen, you don’t leave it to just the boots-on-the-ground reporter. You have to also hold the ground,” he said.