Engage in Investigative and Quality Journalism, Diri Charges Journalists
Senator Douye Diri, the Bayelsa State Governor charges journalists and media personnel in the state to improve in the discharge of their duties by engaging in investigative and quality journalism.
Governor Douye Diri made the call during the maiden Bayelsa Media Summit held at the Banquet hall in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital with the theme Media, Culture and Identity in Bayelsa State: Promoting Indigenous Perspective.
Governor Diri represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo noted that journalists play a major role in the development of any society hence they should engage in investigate journalism for qualitative reportage.
“The news today is not as investigative as it use to be, the voice of the reporters are drowning, journalists need to up their game, we need quality journalism”
Senator Ewhrudjakpo gave assurance of continuos support for the media while also commending the leadership of the Bayelsa State NUJ Council for their foresight in organizing the summit.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku Obiyai urged journalists to celebrate and showcase the rich cultural heritage of Bayelsa State through writing compelling stories.
Mrs Koku Obiyai also urged journalists to tell the stories of the development strides of the prosperity government inorder to promote the Bayelsa cultural identity.
Also speaking, National President, Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya who expressed delight in the Bayelsa State Media Summit challenged all other institutions such as schools and religious organizations to integrate indigenous languages in all their programs.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Aniefiok Udoudo emphasized the need for the media to promote the culture and subcultures of Bayelsa State through the languages, traditional foods and dressing.
“You know that as media practitioners, your assigned roles are to inform and to educate so we must appreciate our individual cultures as good as others so that we can be committed to promoting the indigenous cultures of Bayelsa State”
In his welcome remarks, Chairman, Bayelsa State Council, NUJ, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha reiterated the need for journalists use local languages for communication when needed especially to disseminate information to those at the grassroots.
Comrade Yemoleigha said with the support of critical stakeholders and the government, the Media Summit would become an annal event in Bayelsa State.
Highpoint of the Media Summit was the launching of the NUJ Newsletter.
