Delta Govt Cautions Media Practitioners Against Libelous, Misleading Reports

Delta State Government has expressed concern over the spread of libelous and misleading information by some media practitioners, saying that the state government values good journalism that adheres to global best practices, rather than sensationalized reporting.

The state commissioner for information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, made the call on Tuesday during the media training session organised by members of Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) at the conference room of the state ministry of information.

He urged media practitioners to engage in objective and critical assessment of government policies and programs as opposed to criticisms laced with propaganda and misleading half-truths.

Osuoza said members of the forum should give a chance to ministry officials to make input to reports that have bearing to the state government and its policies.

The commissioner who appreciated members of the forum for informing Deltans and the global community on the activities of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, also commended the forum for showing willingness to publicise activities and programs of the Oborevwori’s government.

He told the online publishers that the government of Sheriff Oborevwori will always appreciate good journalism in accordance with best global practices, rather than cut-and-paste journalism that employ the services of artificial intelligence which encourages unethical misdemeanors.

Dr. Osuoza said the training session with the theme: “SEO, AI and Security in Online News Publishing: A Swiss Knife for Online Publishers,” is germane, given the emerging trend and sophistication in the online journalism business.

The information commissioner said that the engagement and application of Search Engine Optimisations (SEO) and AI platforms has become a crucial skill for ensuring that contents are packaged to give clarity and fluidity.

Amidst the benefits derivable from online journalism, the commissioner expressed sadness over the growth of libelous and deliberately misleading information as well as the contractual engagement of online practitioners to persecute and blackmail personalities.

He said “the evil in this unwholesome and nefarious type of journalism is that some online publishers, for reasons best known to them, are putting pressure on their readers by manipulating narratives to convince them to believe allegations as convictions, against those that these allegations are made against.

“The best ethical journalism practice forbids and opposes this and it is up to the professional journalists in the online publishing community to continue to serve as conventional watchdogs of society and protect the bastion of sound and responsible journalism that the founding fathers of the trade professed and left behind as a legacy by ensuring objectivity and factual reportage.”

The commissioner called on leadership of DOPF to “evolve ways of sanctioning members who are engaged in pedestrian, unprofessional practice, outright propaganda, and yellow journalism.”

The session featured special training on the application of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and the use of artificial intelligence tools to boost clarity of language and enhance visibility on the global online space.

The training session was handled by Dr. Monday Ashibogwu, a renowned publisher of Quick News Africa, based in Lagos Nigeria.