Media Employers Promote Unethical Practices in Journalism

Media Employers Promote Unethical Practices  in Journalism - Oladunjoye

By: Kehinde Adekunjo

Chairman Board  of Directors of the Ogun State Television and the Publicity Secretary  of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye has blamed media employers' refusal to pay salaries of their workforce as and when due as  the  leading cause of  unethical practices among media practitioners.

He also lamented the fact that majority of the media owners who perpetrate this evil act  against media practitioners are themselves Journalists, saying their actions make them the catalyst of unethical practices among modern day practitioners. 

Oladunjoye  made the remarks on Thurday In Abeokuta as guest speaker at the 3rd 'Diji Akinhanmi  Memorial Lecture  with the theme " Journalism and Ethical Issues in Nigeria", put together by the Board and Managemet of the Ogun State Broadcasting  Corporation, OGBC.

He said the saddening hypocrisy however is the fact that, media practitioners decimate  a lot of energy  writing about unpaid salaries and allowances  in other sectors of the economy, but they unfortunately lack the courage to write about their own poor conditions of service, a situation he described as 'suffering and smiling'.

" The number one cause of un-ethical practices in Journalism is the issue of unpaid salary by media owners who are themselves Journalists.  And, the saddening hypocrisy is the fact that media practitioners protect people from other sectors,  writing about their poor conditions of service, but they lack the courage to  write about theirs.It is like suffering and smiling.

He said Journalism   had  always been a struggle  between those who know how to hide things and those who know how to un-earth  what  is hidden, saying however that  the political class had not seen journalists as partners in progress, hence a situation of mutual suspicion had  always characterised the relationship between  media practitioners  and the ruling class.

Describing the Nigerian Journalists as resilient and an institution that had  played and is still playing  greater role in the entrenchment of democratic ideals, Oladunjoye  recalled how journalist of the past era were fully involved in the independence struggle.

While also saying that lack of on-the-job training is one of the bane of Journalism profession, Oladunjoye called on media owners to always send their employees  for training both locally and internationally, admonishing practitioners  themselves  to engage in self development.

The Ogun  State Commissioner for information, Alhaji Waheed Odusile in a remark observed that the major problem of the media in Njgeria is funding, describing most media owners of today as traders.

He said the media will regain its  composure and relevance when  genuine investors come into the profession.

" For the Nigerian media to fare better, the ownership must change  from traders  to  real investors,  Odusile said.

He described the 'Diji Akinhanmi annual lecture as apt , while commending the management of OGBC for the honour,saying the late OGBC General Manager, 'Mr.  Diji Akinhanmi  was a friend of all and a rounded professional who loved Journalism .

The General Manager of OGBC, Mrs. Toyin  Sogbesan  while appreciating the guests for gracing the occasion,  promised o make the event bigger in subsequent years.

The event was well attended by dignatories including the Head of Service, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro, the  Chairman Civil Servjce Commision, Engineer  Tokunbi Odebunmi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information,  Alhaji Waheed Adesina , Chairman Board of Directors s of OGBC, Comrade Yahaya Olodeoku, Head.of the Akinhanmi  Family, Dr. Akin Akinhanmi,  and wife of the deceased  Dr. Akinhanmi  as well as 'Friends of Diji Akinhanmi among others.

solutionpat2022@gmail.com. 07088838221