By Olorunfemi Rhoda
Journalists have been advised against engaging in attitudes which are not biblical injunction while on duty.
The advice was given by Pastor David Deola Odunayo at the November fellowship of the Journalists’ For Christ (JFC), held at International Press Centre (IPC), Ogba, Lagos.
Speaking on ‘Biblical Journalism: Seven things the Lord hates’ and making a reference from the chapter 39 of the book, “The Journalist you ought to be’ by Lekan Otufodunrin, Pastor Odunayo said, there are seven things journalists do which God hates.
According to him, “These attitudes include; a proud look, lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, heart that devices wicked plans, feet that are swift to do evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. Journalists should be biblical and examples at their various work places.”
Making reference to Proverbs 6:16-19, Odunayo explained that it is not good for a journalist to think ‘too high’ of himself. Adding to that, “It is all about humility and being humble is not stupidity”, he advised
“It is not bad for a journalist to have a high opinion or respect his/her profession but it becomes extreme when such a one feels his idea is more superior to his co-journalists,” he said.
Shedding light on a ‘lying tongue’, Odunayo explained that, not only children who tell lies but elderly people too. Journalists should always report all facts when writing their reports because any false report about made about a personality could make journalist’s ‘hands to shed an innocent blood’.
Making a reference on ‘a heart that devises wicked plans’, Odunayo told journalists to learn to separate themselves from people whose aim is to harm others through their reports.
He however ended his teaching by telling journalists that “it is their responsibility to go either to heaven or hell. “No story is worth dying for, whether you want to protect God’s kingdom or not, one should ensure he doesn’t end up in hell.”
Dotun Akintomide, a member asked, why some editors change story’s headline after a journalist must have done his story, because some editors who were not at an event or interview would go ahead and give a story an headline in order to sell a news.
Odunayo responded to his question by telling both editors and journalists to stop exaggerating headlines, or using an headline that could cause chaos or call for questioning by those affected, according to him, “a famous lawyer had to come on a radio station to make a public disclaimer of an headline published by a certain newspaper firm which almost broke his home’’, he said.
Mrs. Otufodunrin, in her contribution said, it is better for one to be determined not to tell lies rather doing it and be implicated.
Mr. Dayo Emmanuel closed the fellowship by encouraging journalists to always be in the spirit according to Galatians 5:22-23, as this will help to guide their conducts while doing their job.
“Being born again is not the only thing but to ensure one gets to heaven. Jesus is the way-therefore it is the duty of every believer to continue in the Jesus to get to heaven,” Emmanuel said.
