, Mr Bayo Balogun has urged journalists to avoid sensational reporting capable of disrupting public peace.){kind=link}
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters (INEC), Mr Bayo Balogun has urged journalists to avoid sensational reporting capable of disrupting public peace.
He said the media must act responsibly in the discharge of its duties and ensure the information churning out was correct and accurate.
Balogun, who represents Ibeju-Lekki Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, made the appeal during a Ramadan Iftar dinner with some journalists in Lagos.
He acknowledged the critical role the media play in shaping public opinion and maintaining societal stability, stressing that it must continue to conform with the professional ethics to further build trust with the public.
The lawmaker also stressed that members of the public often take news reports at face value, believing what they read or hear in the media without questioning it, which places a heavy responsibility on journalists to ensure that their reports are balanced and not capable of inflaming tensions.
According to him “Most people rely on the information they received from the media, just like a child who believes in whatever her teacher says and will always refer to the thoughts of the teacher.
So, the media as an institution is bigger than any individual practitioner and the credibility and respect accorded to the profession depends largely on how responsibly journalists handle and disseminate information.”
The lawmaker also referenced the events surrounding the EndSARS protests, noting that the situation escalated partly due to the way narratives and information circulated widely across various media platforms.
Use of Technology/AI
Balogun further raised concerns about the growing use of technology and Artificial Intelligence in the dissemination of information, warning that such developments could make it increasingly difficult to verify the authenticity of certain contents.
He noted that with the rise of AI-generated materials and digitally manipulated content, journalists must strengthen their fact-checking processes to avoid inadvertently spreading misinformation.
The lawmaker also condemned the activities of some Civil Society Organisations, accusing them of frequently inciting the public against the government rather than promoting constructive engagement on national issues.
“Truly, there is a need for civic advocacy which is one of the ingredients of democracy, but groups that are championing this course must act responsibly and avoid actions capable of escalating tensions or misleading the public. It is not good enough to form a group for your own parochial interest and thereby use it to cause chaos and acrimony in the country, it has to be for the betterment of the people and the state.” he said
Balogun therefore called on both the media and civil society actors to work toward promoting peace, unity and national development through responsible communication and engagement.