By Babalola Gafar
Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has emphasized the need for regulation of online media to curb the spread of fake news and propaganda.
Amosun made this call while delivering an address at the 6th anniversary lecture of Penpushing Media, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Amosun commended Penpushing Media for its contributions to journalism and urged the platform to take a leading role in regulating the online media space.
He highlighted the challenges posed by the proliferation of online media, including the spread of false information and the need for self-regulation.
The former governor emphasized the importance of objective, balanced, and professional journalism, stressing that online media platforms must adhere to ethical standards to maintain credibility.
He encouraged Penpushing Media to collaborate with other online platforms and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to establish standards and codes of conduct for online media operations.
"The need for regulation of online and social media is vital to separate the serious ones from the unscrupulous outfits, many of whose promoters are faceless and their offices unregistered, from tarnishing the image and damaging the reputation of the serious-minded professional ones.
"This is to forestall a case of one bad apple spoiling the whole bunch. May I humbly challenge Penpushing Media to take a pole position in the drive to regulate this sector of news media.
"Penpushing needs to collaborate with other online media platforms and work with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to set standards and code of conducts for their operations, including the accreditation of their members, and the need to educate the general public of their recourse to complain and seek redress where injured, and to ensure prompt retraction of untrue news or stories.
"This is the time for real journalists to take their rightful position. Our nation is in dire need of journalists and media practitioners who are committed and unwavering in their quest to employ their platforms to publish verifiable, objective and balanced news stories that will engender peace and tranquility in the society, national development and cohesion, and not falsehood and propaganda.
"The media with particular emphasis on the online and social media must see itself as an integral part of the society, the media needs to serve public interests at all times so as to continue to be relevant as the fourth estate of the realm."
