Amosun Calls for Regulation to Save Journalism from Quackery
The former governor of Ogun state and former Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Amosun, has urged media practitioners and relevant bodies to establish regulations to protect journalism from unqualified individuals.
Amosun emphasized the need to regulate online and social media to distinguish credible sources from unscrupulous ones.
He made this call at the 6th anniversary lecture of Penpushing Media in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, on Thursday, themed “National Balance-Infrastructure Capacity, Diversity as Tools for Building Blocks and Good Governance”.
Amosun expressed concern about the rapid emergence of quack online media practitioners, which he described as a threat to the journalism profession.
He encouraged stakeholders in the media industry to take action through policy formation and other relevant measures.
His words, “The proliferation of online media in Nigeria is alarming. While online journalism offers the advantage of swift news dissemination, the need for regulation is crucial to separate genuine outlets from unscrupulous ones, many of which are faceless and unregistered, damaging the reputation of professional journalists.”
“The speed with which news can be written, revised, and released makes online journalism an indispensable tool for journalists and readers alike. This trend is fast becoming a new normal and has continued unabated in our society.
“The need for regulation of online and social media is vital to separate the serious ones from the unscrupulous outfits, many of whose promoters are faceless and their offices unregistered, from tarnishing the image and damaging the reputation of the serious-minded professional ones.
Amosun advocated for measures to prevent the degradation of the profession’s integrity.
He also encouraged Penpushing Media to collaborate with other online platforms and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to establish standards and codes of conduct for their operations.
