The Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, has charged Nigerian broadcasters to prioritise verification, accuracy and responsible reporting in the face of rising misinformation and disinformation.
He gave the charge in Bauchi Tuesday when he opened the 3rd Annual Conference and the induction of new members of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) held at International Conference Centre, Bauchi, with the theme: “Responsible Broadcasting in an Election Year: Countering Misinformation, Promoting Peace and Strengthening Democracy.”
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Muhammad Auwal Jatau, said the rapid spread of manipulated content had made credible and responsible broadcasting more important than ever and urged broadcasters to uphold professional ethics by verifying information before dissemination and clearly distinguishing between facts, analysis, commentary and opinion.
He then commended the SNB for upholding democratic processes in managing the society’s affairs, particularly through periodic elections and the renewal of its leadership.
He noted that the conference would also provide an opportunity for members to elect a new executive council, describing leadership transition as an important test of the strength and maturity of any institution.
“I urge practitioners to continue placing a premium on verification, accuracy and responsible reporting, and to maintain a clear distinction between facts, analysis, commentary and opinion.
I therefore commend the society for sustaining a democratic process through which its members can renew their leadership,” Mohammed said.
