Stick to Facts, Don’t Misinform – Chief Okogwu Urges Journalists
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
Chief Sunny Okogwu, president and founder, Black Gold on Tuesday cautioned media practioners to stick to facts available to them in the discharge of their duties in order not to misinform the public.
The elder statesman gave the advice when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna council led by its chairman Comrade Adamu Yusuf paid him a courtesy call.
He charged them on the need not to exergerate on what they write, adding that their importance in the society cannot be over-emphasised.
According to Chief Okogwu, it is important to ensure that journalists write what is factual, truthful and unbiased to avoid being an embarrassment to themselves, their family and the society in general.
He noted with nostalgia that NUJ Kaduna council used to be the best in the good old days and urged the new leadership to do whatever it takes to ensure that Kaduna council takes its rightful place among other councils.
Chief Okogwu also reiterated that journalists are supposed to be bomb of the nation through their stories but must be cautions of how and when to explode.
”What you write as a story is being read by the living not the dead, being used by the living and most often than not the benefit is not gotten by you. Your knowledge can be used but your name can not be erased.
“NUJ Kaduna was the best in the country. No fake, indiscipline and unedited Editor then, everything was perfect, I hope it can be so again.
“Investigative journalism supported with the truth not fake or imaginary is important. Write what you see physically and edit what u hear. You are weapons that has no sound, you equally destroy without sound, use the weapon well, you have what it takes to make your enemies your friends.
“Be careful with what you do to avoid becoming an embarrassment to yourself and family. Don’t harass anybody in newspaper” he stressed.
He offered to be of any tremendous assistance to the council whenever the need arises.
Earlier, the council chairman, Comrade Yusuf commended the elder statesman for his continued contributions to the council and solicited for more of his elderly and philanthropic support as always.
