Journalists must uphold integrity, scholarly standards — Prof Oladeji

Professor Abubakar Oladeji, a renowned academic and researcher at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, has urged journalists to uphold integrity and adopt a scholarly approach in their role as society’s watchdog.

He gave this admonition on Saturday during the annual retreat of Western Post Newspaper in Ibadan.

The programme, themed “Periodic Elections, Internal Democracy, and the Role of the Media in a Multi-Party State”, attracted several veteran journalists, including Tunde Rahman, Sola Imaru, and Kola Amzat, who shared insights on ethical journalism ahead of the forthcoming election cycle.

Addressing participants, Professor Oladeji emphasised that the media has a critical role to play in consolidating Nigeria’s democracy.

He noted that journalists must take responsibility for investigating events, engaging in constructive analysis, and ensuring that political elites are held accountable, especially as the election season draws near.

“The effectiveness does not only rely on the electoral system or season but also on the media. It is essential and imperative that the media take a scholarly approach to the process of governance. Investigate where necessary and also interpret. Read wide and far. Remember, it is what you know that you can present and inform others with,” he said.

Similarly, in his presentation, Kola Amzat stressed the need for journalists to defend their integrity while reporting accurate, timely and impactful stories.

Amzat said, “You must guard your integrity jealously. In an era of pressure and misinformation, the strength of journalism lies in credibility. You must be factual, be timely and always ensure your reports make meaningful impact on society.”