A veteran Journalist, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, has expressed his deepest worry over a sharp decline in the quality of reporting, even among trained and professional journalists across Nigeria.
Speaking at a meeting organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, southwest zone, held in Ado Ekiti, the two-term former NUJ Chairman of Oyo State Chapter, noted that the sacred mantras of the journalistic profession, which are objectivity, fairness, and balance are recently being tossed aside too often.
According to Mr Ojo-Lanre, the pen profession is witnessing a surge in one-legged stories where news productions are not cross-checked, unbalanced, and sometimes based on hearsay, finding their way into mainstream newspapers.
Mr Ojo-Lanre, who is the current Director General of Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, described the scenario as not just disappointing but also a disservice to the public and a betrayal of professional calling.
“Journalism is fast losing its respect and credibility. And it’s not because of external factors — it’s because some practitioners are no longer committed to truth, to public interest, or to journalistic ethics, he said.
The veteran Journalist maintained that the digital age has further complicated the development, where the profession is being crowded by untrained, unregulated individuals who parade themselves as bloggers or citizen journalists, many of whom flood the media space with fake news, unverified claims, and content lacking any editorial rigour.
While celebrating excellence “l must voice a concern that has weighed heavily on me — a lamentation from one who has walked the beat, held the pen, and served this profession with heart and conscience. he added
Mr Ojo-Lanre, therefore, challenged the women journalists to Lead the charge for professional revival, be the vanguard of truth and ethical journalism, Promote continuous training, digital literacy and media ethics, encourage certification and capacity building, Let reports be thorough, fair, and worthy of public trust.
“You must not only shine in your newsrooms — you must also shape the next generation of journalists by mentoring, educating, and inspiring them to do better, he emphasized.
