Media practitioners urged to verify every report, combat fake news, and strengthen social cohesion through responsible journalism.
By USMAN UMAR
The media has been challenged to place truth, accuracy, and public interest above the race to break news, with experts warning that unverified reports—particularly during security crises—can inflame tensions, jeopardize security operations, and undermine efforts aimed at building lasting peace.
The charge was the central message at a one-day capacity-building workshop on “Responsible Information Management and Peace-Oriented Journalism for Social Cohesion,” organized by the Office of the Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the Adamawa State Governor, Professor John Ngamsa.
Held at the conference hall of Livak Signature Hotel, the workshop brought together journalists, public information officers, public relations practitioners, and communication experts from across Adamawa State to strengthen ethical reporting and promote peace-oriented journalism.
Addressing participants, the Adamawa State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr. Leader Leneke, urged journalists to cultivate a culture of verification and objectivity, stressing that credible journalism remains the cornerstone of democracy and public confidence.
He cautioned media professionals against sensational reporting capable of triggering unnecessary fear or public unrest, emphasizing that every published story must be guided by facts, fairness, and professional ethics.
Barr. Leneke also encouraged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to deepen collaboration with government institutions and relevant stakeholders to enhance professional standards and strengthen self-regulation within the media industry.
Delivering a paper titled “Security Information and Responsible Media Reporting,” the Police Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa State Police Command, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, who represented the Commissioner of Police, underscored the strategic role of journalists in safeguarding national security through responsible reporting.
He described the Adamawa State Police Command as media-friendly but appealed to journalists to exercise restraint when covering security-related issues, insisting that every security report should undergo thorough verification before publication.
According to him, stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies is indispensable in confronting the growing threats of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, which continue to endanger public safety and national stability.
Other resource persons at the workshop included the Press Secretary to the Adamawa State Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou; former National Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Zare Baba; Barr. Japhet Kanyadi Gajere; and Padio Phineas.
The speakers unanimously called on media professionals to embrace peace journalism, emphasizing that responsible reporting should promote dialogue, understanding, reconciliation, and national unity rather than deepen divisions or inflame conflict.
Participants agreed that ethical journalism and verified information remain indispensable tools for fostering peace, strengthening social cohesion, and sustaining public confidence in the media.
The workshop concluded with a collective commitment by participants to uphold the principles of accuracy, professionalism, and peace-oriented reporting, reaffirming the media’s role not merely as a conveyor of information but as a powerful catalyst for unity, stability, and sustainable development in Adamawa State.
PIONEER NEWS 