Kaduna Tasks Journalists On Peace Reportage

Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, says journalists in the state must engage in on ethical reportage of security and other sensitive issues for peace building.

Aruwan mentioned this on Tuesday in Kaduna while speaking at a seminar and award organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel, Kaduna chapter.

The theme of the seminar is ‘Tackling Security Challenges; The Role of The Media.’

The Commissioner who groaned on how insecurity has gripped the state, however expressed optimism that the monster would be defeated.

He noted that information is power, and an individual’s power to act is limited to the information to which he/she is exposed to.

 “The power of the media is like two sides of the same coin.

"On one hand, an independent and pluralistic media provides a platform for healthy debate and sharing of opinions, and on the other, the media can be grossly misused and abused for the purposes of propaganda, to incite hatred, spread rumours and divisive narratives and therefore create tensions.

“It has become even more pervasive in recent times with technologies like the internet, social media and instant messaging,” he said.

The commissioner also lamented the ease for vast sections of the public in selling fantastic narratives of ethno-religious conflict as substitutes for the stark reality of banditry, criminality, terrorism, and economic tensions.

“Terrorists and criminals are now given ethnic tags, which only serve as cloaks to further protect them from the glare of truth.

“The crucial task for the media now is creating that balance between protecting freedom of expression and preventing harm caused by unrestrained free speech.

“Finding that balance is very important, especially in a pluralist society like ours, which unfortunately has been charged with vibes of social, political and ethno-religious division.

“We must engage in responsible journalism, and that is journalism which does not simply re-publish press releases, or spread random broadcasts on social media, but is truly concerned with a balanced and truthful account of events,” Aruwan said.

He explained that peace journalists could investigate causes behind conflicts and the true motives of the participants while making sure to humanise all victims of the conflict.

In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Moses Kolo, noted that there is no doubt that the State and Nation is going through its most difficult phase.

He also expressed optimism that the menace would be a thing of the past.