The Vice- Chancellor of Nile University, Professor Nurettin Can has called on Nigerian journalists to live up to its role of promoting peaceful coexistence among different groups through its reportage.
Can made the call yesterday in Abuja in an event organized by the Mass Communication department of the institution to mark the 2018 World Television Day with the theme,”Role of the media in promoting peaceful coexistence”.
He said that the peace and stability of Nigeria lay in the hands of journalists, who were expected to promote peaceful coexistence among the people.
The guest speaker, a veteran broadcaster, Nabil Negemeldin in his speech appealed to the media to be objective and transparent in the reportage of the forthcoming 2019 general elections in the country.
He said the media has a great role to play to make the general election credible by strictly adhering to the tenets of the profession and avoiding unbiased reporting before, during and after the elections to avert a breakdown of Nigeria’s democracy.
“Credible election starts with voter education.The media should be alive to its role of enlightenment by educating the electorates to exercise their civic responsibility as enshrined in the constitution.
“They should also avoid unbiased reporting before, during and after the elections to avert a breakdown of Nigeria’s democracy. This is achieved by giving equal treatment to parties and candidates contesting in the elections.
“They should downplay issues capable of having negative effect on the system by engaging within the confines of their profession and the code of conduct for election reporting”.
Earlier,the Head of the Department, Dr. Kabiru Yusuf cautioned media against hate speeches and incitement that can divide the Nigerians along religious and ethnic lines.
He identified culture, faith and media as basis of unrest and violence in the country and urged journalists to stop promoting hatred on the basis of religion or tribe.
