The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, says media practice in Nigeria over the years, had raised public concern, because of what some of the mass media platform have been putting out for public consumption, adding, “This has raised questions as to their professionalism, ethical standards and social responsibility.”

He noted that the need for professional ethics had become “absolutely necessary due to public reactions against the excesses of some of the media outfits, who have abused their freedom and privileges.”

Umanah, who was giving his keynote address at a Two-day workshop organised by Exxon Mobil, Anak Ventures and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State council in Uyo, on “Professionalism, media ethics and responsibility in sustaining democracy for journalists in Akwa Ibom”, observed that the abuse of this freedom had given rise to such negative journalism practice as “yellow journalism” characterised by irresponsibility, sensationalism, character assassination and outright smear campaigns.

“With consideration of the ‘Social Responsibility Theory of the Press’ that outlines codes of ethics designed to encourage responsible behavior by the press, the profession is supposed to be sanitised to restore the confidence of the public and make it truly watchdogs of the society. The media ethics and its responsibility, therefore, are to keep journalists within their bounds of public morality, and to check excesses which could be inimical to social and political developments,” Umanah pointed out.

The commissioner charged the media to re-double efforts by informing the public more, of the plans, programmes and activities of government, for their benefits, stressing that, the state governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, within few months in office, had embarked on people oriented projects.

“These, he mentioned, “Includes the recent ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of an Automobile Assembling Plant; ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of Daar Communications AIT Ray Power Television and Radio broadcasting facilities in Abak; ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of LED manufacturing plant at Itam, and the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of Shoprite Shopping Mall, by Ibom Tropicana complex in Uyo.”

“There has also been infrastructure expansions, reacquisition and rehabilitation of moribund industries, and many other intervention projects in the state, to reposition our state for industrialisation and wealth creation.” Mr. Umanah stated, adding, “As journalist you have the moral obligation to give an objective reportage of such projects and programmes of government, to create more awareness to the public for sustained democratic governance to thrive, instead of dwelling on falsehood to mislead the people.”

He however expressed his believe that “this training workshop, organised for journalists, will ensure strict fundamental media practices, in line with the code of ethics of the profession, which seeks to encourage sound ethical media practice and promote good governance, for the benefits of the citizenry.”

•Photo shows Aniekan Umanah.