The publisher of Thisday Newspapers, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, has said the Nigerian media had remained strong and focused in spite of the prevalence of social media and blogging in the industry.
Obaigbena stated this in a Goodwill message at the four-day 9th All Nigerian Editors Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), which began in Asaba, Delta, on Thursday.
He said that apart from an avalanche of social media network, more than 1000 bloggers were operating in the media industry in the country.
Obaigbena said that “mainstream media” in the country had recorded major transformation in all aspects of operations, working in a different and better atmosphere from what it used to be.
Obaigbena commended Editors in the country for their contribution to the nation’s development.
He also urged participants at the conference to enunciate ideas for better practise of journalism in the country.
In his message, Malam Garba Mohammed, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), urged the conference participants to brainstorm on how the issues of ethics in journalism practise in the country could be addressed.
He said the NUJ had already produced a new code of ethics, after a review of the existing one.
Mohammed also called on NGE to quickly send its input on modalities for the implementation of the code.
“It is pertinent that we urgently do this so as to save our media from the situations in Uganda, Somalia, Gambia and other places,” he said.
Mohammed urged the editors to deliberate on the lingering but necessary issues of insurance for journalists, in view of the obvious hazards in the profession. (NAN)
