Gov. Mohammed tasks journalists to uphold ethics, professionalism in reportage
By Hajara Leman
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has urged media practitioners to uphold ethics and professionalism to promote peace, unity and good governance in the country.
He said this at the inauguration of a two-day annual retreat for the Bauchi Government House Media Crew, on Thursday in Gombe.
Represented by Usman Shehu, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mohammed said the retreat was a valuable platform for media professionals to exchange ideas, assess performances, and develop strategies to enhance professional excellence and service delivery.
He said that lessons learnt from the retreat would improve communication, and promote ethical standards in journalism.
“As we gradually approach another election season, I encourage you to think outside the box by developing innovative and constructive ways of supporting government communication efforts while upholding the ethics and responsibilities of your profession.
“Your role in promoting peace, unity and public confidence in governance remains critical to our collective interest at this crucial time,” he said.
Mr Mukhtar Gidado, Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, said the retreat would strengthen the capacities of media professionals entrusted with the responsibility of projecting the activities, policies and achievements of the state.
He said the training had evolved into a tradition of continuous learning, innovation and institutional development.
“Our decision to sustain this annual capacity-building programme is informed by our firm conviction that effective governance deserves effective communication.
“In today’s digital era, where information travels faster than ever before and public opinion is increasingly shaped by online engagement, the responsibility placed on government communicators has become more demanding, strategic and significant,” he said.
Gidado said the media landscape was undergoing rapid transformation, with artificial intelligence, digital storytelling, multimedia content creation, social media engagement and cybersecurity redefining how information is produced, disseminated and consumed.
He stressed that media practitioners must not only keep pace with these developments, but also position themselves to lead with professionalism, credibility and innovation.
“Although technology provides powerful communication tools, ethical journalism and responsible public communication remain the foundation upon which public confidence is built.
“Accuracy, fairness, accountability, integrity and respect for the truth must continue to guide our work, particularly in an era where misinformation and disinformation pose serious threats to democratic governance and public trust,” he said.
Also, Mr Shu’aibu Leman, former National Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), urged journalists to embrace impact-based reporting to enhance public trust, visibility and citizen engagement in governance.
Leman presented a paper titled: “Communicating Governance with Impact Rethinking Government House Journalism for Enhanced Public Trust, Visibility and Citizen Engagement.”
He said that government communication should go beyond reporting official activities to explaining how policies affect the lives of the citizens.
According to Leman, journalists serve as the vital link between government and the people.
He highlighted that accurate, contextual and people-centred journalism, supported by regular media tours to project sites, is essential for promoting transparency, countering misinformation and strengthening public confidence in governance.
