‘Why the Nigerian media should stop promoting disruptive issues’

A former Dean at the School of Communication, Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Lai Osho asked the Nigerian media to desist from publishing stories that give voice to ‘rive’ – instead, help in building platforms that help citizens and build consensus.

Prof Osho gave the advice at a three-day retreat organised by the Lagos State Government for Correspondents covering activities at the Governor’s Office, held at the Golden Tulip Hotels, Festac.

Highlights: Professor Osho said the media has the responsibility to report good governance, adding that journalists and their employers should desist from what he termed “dangerous discusses” in the bid to increase ratings, draw traffic to their websites or sell newspapers as the case may be.

The media must provide a space for consensus building. There is too much confrontation, opposition and threatening messages. You’ll find out that some of our so-called leaders, the way they present issues tend to antagonise other people. I don’t think media organisations should lend their spaces to such dangerous discusses.

They must try to look at people with moderate views that can build this country,” Osho said.

Professor Osho decried the commercialisation of news.

There are organisations now that have turned their reporters to marketing officers. That is against the ethics of journalism. The news is the heart of any media organisation, if you have good news, advertisers will come,” he said.

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