‘Why journalists should embrace new technologies’

Journalists have been urged to take advantage of new technologies particularly social media to enhance good reporting and information dissemination.

This charge was given by the Editor of the Guardian Newspaper, Mr Martins Oloja, while delivering a lecture titled Journalism: Tool for sustainable societal development during the 2015 annual press week of the Ogun NUJ Information chapel held in Abeokuta.

He said that journalists should endeavour to develop themselves by acquiring more knowledge to broaden their horizon, adding that social media was more relevant in recent time and has gone a long way in reaching out to many people across the world.

According to him, technology has enhanced the way journalism is being practiced, calling on journalists to renew their minds to meet up with the growing trends in the social media. “Education is getting out of classroom because of technology, there is virtually no course that is not offered online now through the power of World Wide Web (www),” Oloja said.

He encouraged men of the pen profession to acquire managerial skills, which would improve their productivity if they are opportune to be at the helms of affairs of any organisation.

He noted that a good journalist must endeavour to gather facts and ensure their stories measured up to expectation, adding that journalists should cultivate a reading habit to enrich their knowledge.

In his remarks, the Patron of the Chapel, Mr. Remi Adetayo, who said that social media was an idea in vogue, regarding it as one of the ways to remain relevant in modern journalism practice.

He said information should be at their fingertips and therefore journalists must be able to contribute their quota by disseminating facts, which would help in the development of the society.

Contributing, a veteran broadcaster, Aremo Taiwo Alimi emphasised the need for proper regulation of media activities, calling for effective monitoring of media organisations. Meanwhile, a call has gone to journalists in Ogun State to be proactive and accurate in news reportage towards nation building and for the success of the present political dispensation.

The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun stated this while declaring open the 2015 press week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ogun State Information Chapel held in Abeokuta.

The Governor who was represented by the State Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle, said the theme of the week, Journalism: Tool for Sustainable Societal Development was very apt putting into consideration the present happenings in the country, adding that journalists as a major stakeholder should play their part by reporting the facts in order to sustain the desired development in the country.

I want to personally congratulate the Chairman, Press Week Committee, Mrs. Ebunlomo Taiyese for putting up a befitting 2015 Press Week programme.

Let me say this, following the recent change in Nigeria, the theme of your programme is highly relevant and journalists as a major stakeholder must support the present President at sustaining the wind of change blowing across the nation,” Amosun said.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the occasion who is the Regional Manager of Skye Bank, Mr. Femi Fatunbi described journalism as a noble profession that updates the public on recent happenings, assuring his organisations continued support for the chapel.

The Chief host, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdul-Fatai Opebiyi commended the chapel and its members for being professional and proactive in the way they disseminate information about the day-to-day activities of the State Government.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman NUJ Information Chapel, Mrs. Oluwaseun Boye, appreciated the State Governor for his continuous support to the chapel, saying that this year’s press week was an opportunity to beam the searchlight on journalists, taking stock, review performances in relation to nation building as well as equipping them for the challenges ahead.