In an effort to sanitize and enhance the practice journalism profession which has now been corroded by the activities of fake and quack journalists, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone H in Collaboration with the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) today, Wednesday April 7, 2010 organised a one-day Media Round Table in Abuja with the Theme: ‘’Checking the Menace of Fake Journalists’’.
Senior Journalists, Martins Oloja of the Guardian Newspaper, Iyabosa Uwugiaren of the Leadership Newspaper and Kayode Oyebisi of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) presented papers on the problems of faking in journalism, while participants were drawn from Security Agencies, Immigration, customs, NIPR, Hotel Managers, Chief Press Secretaries and Special Assistants on Media NUJ Members in Abuja, Niger State Council as well as Nigerian Press Council. The following resolutions were taken:
(1). That NUJ should as a matter of urgency embark on immediate, thorough and comprehensive re-accreditation/registration of practising journalists in the Country.
(2). That Media Stakeholders should work towards the review of sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution which deal with Media Ownership in order to streamline it in consonance with the Code and Ethics of the Media Profession.
(3). The forum urges the National Assembly to quickly pass the Nigerian Press and Practice of Journalism Council Bill as well as the Freedom of Information Bill before it.
(4). That Nigeria should take a cue from South Africa where its Liquidation Law is enough to pay media workers as at when due.
(5). That NUJ should ensure regular payment of salary to its members by their employer.
(6). That there is need to professionalise journalism practice like NBA, ICAN, NIPR, APCON, etc.
(7). That NUJ should redefine and identify who a journalist, is and insist on the strict adherence of the guideline for registration of journalist in line with current development of globalization and technology.
(8). That there is the need for all journalist in the country to rise up to the challenge in the fight against fakes and quacks in the profession.
(9). That the NUJ and NPC should sustain the public enlightenment and educations that will enable security agencies complement the effort in the fight against fake journalists in the country.
(10). That Communication Managers should evolve more creative ways of rewarding Journalists covering their events instead of cash and their sumptuous meals after such events as this discourage fake Journalism Practice in the Country.
(11). That the NUJ expresses appreciation to the Nigerian Press Council for its support in the fight against Fake Journalists in the Country.