Media professionals have advised emerging journalists to avoid publishing unverified reports, warning that the spread of fake news could expose practitioners and media organisations to legal consequences. The caution was given on Monday in Abuja during activities marking the centenary celebration of the Daily Times newspaper.
The stakeholders noted that media organisations can only withstand political transitions, economic challenges and technological changes by remaining committed to the ethics and standards of journalism.
Speaking at the event, Tony Amokeodo, a former spokesperson to ex-Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, urged journalists to rely on primary sources when gathering information.
“Some journalists rely on secondary sources and not primary sources. Any journalist that wants to excel must avoid beer parlour rumours and stick to facts. Get your facts from your primary source," he said.
Amokeodo expressed concern over the growing spread of misinformation, particularly on digital platforms, arguing that many individuals involved in news dissemination do not adhere to professional journalism standards.
According to him, “reporters are not journalists”, adding that on some online platforms, “anything goes”.
Addressing concerns about alleged attacks on journalists and media organisations by authorities, Amokeodo attributed some of the challenges to a failure to uphold journalistic ethics.
Also speaking, Managing Editor of Daily Times, Charles Ozoemena, warned journalists against sharing unverified information, stressing that publishing false reports could result in costly legal battles.
“If you are not sure of the fact, don’t go there. A lot of journalists just share whatever breaking news that they see online. You are sharing news that you don’t know the source of and you are not even sure of.
“You must have to confirm the story by yourself before sharing; otherwise, you are exposing yourself to serious litigation.
“Instead of confirming stories, you share whatever press releases you see; that is lazy journalism as far as I am concerned."
Ozoemena stressed that journalists must independently verify information before publication rather than relying solely on third-party sources or press statements.
In his remarks, founder of Folio Media Group and publisher of Daily Times, Fidelis Anosike, encouraged practitioners to remain dedicated to the profession, emphasising the importance of consistency, research and continuous practice, which is sacrosanct.
“The next ten years of the profession will be defined by real journalists. If you are a real journalist, you should be able to write, back your stories, do research and structure your content. The profession is not for the faint-hearted.
“You can’t be a journalist, and then after five years, you go and do real estate, and then after another five years, you return. No. For you to be a perfectionist in whatever you are doing, you have to do it repeatedly over time."
Anosike described the 100th anniversary of Daily Times as a significant milestone for both the newspaper and the journalism profession in Nigeria.