Workshop: Imo NUJ Lauds Gov Uzodinma For Engaging Journalists In Digital Era Media Practice …As Union Commissions Restaurant

ThankGod Emeh…

The leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo state Council, as well as practising Journalists in the state have lauded the State Governor for organizing “A One Day Professional Development Workshop For Practising Journalists In Imo State”, describing it as a welcome development and one of its kind.

According to the participants, the lectures which centred on the theme of the event: “Upgrading Strategic Communication Competences in the Digital Era” will enhance their performances in the changing world of Journalism and as well put them at par with their counterparts in advanced countries.

Declaring the Professional Workshop open for Journalists in the state, the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma who was represented by the Honourable Commissioner For Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the aim of the Workshop is to advance Journalism profession as well as the performances of media practitioners in the state in order to fit into the world best media practices of the Digital Era.

Governor Uzodinma stressed that “the world is not only a global village but a very tiny one such that nothing happens in any part of the world with other parts not knowing in a matter of seconds except those who are not part of the super highway of Digital Communication” hence he charged Journalists to up their game and embrace online Journalism in order to eliminate quackery ushered in by Citizen Journalism and other negative effects of Digital Technology.

Governor Uzodinma however charged Imo Journalists to seriously fashion out ways to fight fake news which is chiefly one of the negative effects of Digital Technology in the practice of Journalism
while assuring the Union of the state government’s support.

The Governor commended the Imo NUJ, NAWOJ and IIJ leadership, the Facilitator and organising committee for taking the challenge to host the programme.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Prince Ford Ozumba expressed happiness over the hardwork and diligence of Imo Journalists, noting that Imo state is one of the booming states in the country as far as Journalism is concerned.

Hon. Ozumba called on the participants to keep up the good works and as well ensure that all acts of professionalism are brought to bare in all their reportage and at times.

In his address at the Workshop, the Imo NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwanguma emphasized the need and urgency for training and retraining of journalists in the state, adding that the programme came at the right time of the year 2023 as “it is expected to prepare media practitioners for effective delivery in the year and ahead of the elections season”

Comrade Nwanguma said “the theme of the workshop ‘Upgrading Strategic Communication Competences in the Digital Era’ is germane as Journalists work within the 21st Century characterized by dexterity in Information and Communication Technology (ICT)”, hence media practitioners must flow with the tides of times in order not to be left out in the long run.

“There is need to embrace the skills of the Digital times in order to transact in the Digital trends for effective media delivery. One does not need to think Analog in the Digital times but to be able to upgrade to the current trend in order to be on top of events. This reality is necessary to migrate operations to the new realities so that media practitioners of Imo state will rise to the same level with their peers across the world. This will also help in preparing each and everyone for higher roles and better relevance going forward”

The Imo NUJ Chairman extolled the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma for being media friendly, noting that his support to the Union is immeasurable while encouraging media practitioners in the state to seize the opportunity to improve themselves at all levels.

Nwanguma equally thanked the Facilitator and Immediate Past Chairman of Imo NUJ, Chief Christopher Akaraonye as well as the organizing committee led by Dr. Dorathy Nnaji for a job well done.

Delivering the first lecture at the Workshop with the topic “Social Media: Opportunities and Challenges of Journalists As Partners For Sustainable Security in the Society”, a renowned professor of Mass Communication, Prof. Emma Owums Owuamalam holistically harped the need for strategic communication, training and Upgrading of Digital age requirements in journalism profession.

Prof Owumamalam stressed that ignorance is the bane of Today’s journalism hence media literacy, proper language use, data analysis and Technology application is the way forward as he encouraged the participants to live up to the professional expectations of the job even in the Digital era.

The second Resource Person at the training who doubles as a lecturer at International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, Abuja (Owerri Study Centre), Mr Charles U. A. Nwankwo painstakingly dwelt on “Guarding Against Libel and Injurious Publications By Journalists where he carefully spelt out the golden rules and regulations guiding Journalists for better media practice.

Mr Nwankwo while highlighting the Obligation of the Press, the provisions of Freedom of Information Act(FOIA) 2011, as well as the contextual background of Defamation, charged Journalists at the occasion to follow functional editing guidelines and practices.

He further advised journalists not to allow their writings to betray truth and fairness and above all watch themselves and discourage unfit and improper persons to practice the profession.

Speaking also, the Facilitator of the Workshop who is the Immediate Past Chairman of Imo NUJ, Chief Christopher Akaraonye noted that the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma has made Journalists in the state proud through the Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, noting that the Workshop is a Brainchild of the Commissioner.

According to Chief Akaraonye; Hon. Emelumba has been bridging the gap between Journalists and the government in the state.

Akaraonye thanked the Governor, the commissioner for Information and Strategy; Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, participants as well as guests for honouring their invitations while urging the participants to take the Workshop seriously and put into practice what they learnt.

The highlight of the occasion was the commissioning of the Imo NUJ Restaurant by the Governor and photoshoot session.

…News Corner