"Setup Fundamental Ethics To Guide Online Journalism" - Sport Minister, Sunday Dare Urges SWEGOP

Kehinde Ayanboade,

Ibadan.

Minister for Sport and Youth Development, Sunday Dare has urged online publishers to establish a set of fundamental ethics which would guide the conduct of journalism in the country in order to enforce professionalism.

Sunday Dare who made this plea at the 2-Day Workshop Training organized by the Southwest Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) at Ilaji Farm, Hotel and Resorts in Ibadan on Saturday maintained that the major reason behind the lack of professionalism in online Journalism is the absence of gatekeeping, balancing and other key code of ethics guiding the traditional media.

He added that the problem of online Journalism is tyranny of traffic driving headlines, the task of immediacy, "Who to publish first" and non balancing in News reportage.

"The availability of Web 02 system enables people to go on social media to share pictures and posts and this has make everybody a Journalist. 

"It is part of training that when a newsman is in doubt, he shouldn't publish until the news content is verified. The tyranny of the headline, immediacy in Social Media is disheartening.The Gatekeeping theory and ethics which is very important in traditional media has been eroded.

"Online publishers should Setup a set of Fundamental ethics for Online Journalism, let's bring some respect to Journalism, there are ethics but there are not thorough enforcement. Drive the change to have a redeem of ethics that guides you as online Journalists. Create a distinct path for yourself, and setup at least a minimum requirements for your members".

In another word, Mr. Sunday Dare described the Nigeria Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari as a government that put the youths on top of it's agenda adding that the N-Power program is one of the largest youth focused empowerment program in the sub-saharan Africa. 

Speaking about Sport, The Minister noted that in a bid to bringup rising star in Nigeria Football, the extincted annual Christmas Cup is set to return and has been rechristened to involve 20,000 - 41,000 secondary schools in Nigeria.

He buttressed that the ministry is working towards rehabilitation of the four (4) national stadium including the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Abuja Stadium and the Shriners Stadium in Lagos.

He added that the ministry is looking forward to partnership of private organizations to help in remodelling these stadium. He added that with the appreciated help of Chief Adebutu Keshinghton, The Surulere Stadium in Lagos will be completed in June, 2021.

Also, the Nigeria Professional Football League has been digitalized and is currently available to be streamed and watched online in different countries.

He added that the ministry of Sport and Youth Development is currently working with the National Bureau of Statistic to get the database of youths in Nigeria.

Honourable representing Afijio state constituency in the Oyo state House of Assembly, Hon. Seyi Adisa while addressing newsmen at the workshop tasked online journalists on maintain balancing in news reportage and indulge in the act of retraining to keep them inline of professionalism.