Editors Guild President Calls for Citizens’ Access to Information 

 

The President Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Eze Anaba, has called on members to do more to promote citizens’ access to information.

 

He made this call at an address of welcome at the 19th All Nigeria Editors Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

 

Anaba stated that access to information would enhance participatory democracy and encourage good governance.

 

“Without access to information, this form of governance is not possible.

“Information creates the opportunity to discuss a range of available options and to take part in meaningful public policy discussions and informed political debates.

 

“Information allows the public to hold a government accountable by creating a public awareness of the government’s conduct.

 

“It is for this reason that the theme of this year’s annual conference is: “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media,” he added.

This call was coming against the background of the proliferation of fake news, misinformation, and sister information from social media and non-trained journalists in the country.

 

Eze Anaba, Editor of Vanguard newspapers said that about 300 media executives and senior editors are attending the conference, adding that the conference would also examine Nigerian media sustainability, the existential threat of the Big Tech and the way forward.

 

The NGE President advised editors and other media professionals to continue to ensure balanced, accurate, factual, and timely news reporting, which he described as the hallmark of journalism.

 

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Publisher of the Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Sam Amuka, stated that journalists were the conscience of the society and warned them against publishing fake news.

 

He advised, “You must always publish the truth.

Voice of Nigeria reports that the three-day conference would feature presentations, discussions on the state of the media by media experts, information managers, project tours, induction of new members, and Fellows a Gala Nite.

 

The Director of News, Voice of Nigeria, Austeen Elewodalu, will be among the senior journalists to be inducted into the fellows club of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE.

 

Former fellows of the Guild from VON  are Mr Okey Nwachukwu, former Executive Director of News and the late Ben Egbuna, another former Executive Director of News and Director of General Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

 

Dominica Nwabufo