Dare says journalists must strengthen, re-define their profession from “social media mole”
The immediate-past Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Chief Sunday Dare, on Thursday in Ibadan urged journalists to re-define themselves and separate themselves from the “social media mole””.
Dare said this during the 2023 Press Week of the Oyo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which has the theme “Nigerian Economy: Reimaging Education System for the Fifth Industrial Revolution”.
Supreme News reports that the Week, which began on Sunday, entered Day Four on Thursday with the League of Veteran Journalists Day for friends and families.
Dare, while speaking, said: “As a journalist, we must define and re- define ourselves.
“We must separate ourselves from the social media mole, the pseudo-journalists who claim to be journalists without requisite credentials.
“The most important role the media was placed with, therefore, is that of the watch dog of the society. So, the media must see its role as sacrosanct.
”We must reinforce our position as media men with professional ethics
“We must strengthen our arms, that is the future of journalism, from Reporters to Correspondents and to the Editors,” he stated.
Dare said the Oyo State NUJ veterans must be reflecting on what they have done in the past with some level of regrets.
“Today they can sit here, and flash back to what they have done in the decades gone by. I’m not too sure they are happy about what they see today.
”But, also on the flip side, I am sure they are happy that there is a tribe of journalists who still practise journalism the way it should be practised,” he said.
The former Minister of Sports and Youth Development then advised that what was needed was to increase the rank of journalism practitioners, those who are trained to play that role.
He lamented the fact surrounding the vulnerability of journalists to sudden death.
”Journalism today is in chaos. Journalists are vulnerable and, for example, more than 11 journalists have been killed in less than 14 days in active service.
“They are open to attacks, and this is because the gate has been opened because of the social media, because of 5.0 technology. So, we must return to the legacy media.
“Our profession is in danger. Each and every one of us should save our profession, since we are now in an age where everybody is now a journalist,” Dare said.
Supreme News reports that Dare was honoured at the occasion with the “NUJ Lifetime Achievement Award” as a veteran journalist, following his almost three decades of journalism experience both nationally and internationally.
Others who received awards at the occasion are Alhaji Adewale Adele, a former Chairman of the League of Veteran Journalists, and Mr Adebayo Folayan.
Supreme News reports that the occasion was graced by several dignitaries, including Amb. Yemi Farounbi, Prof Deolu Akande, Amb. Debo Akande, amongst others.
