No fewer than 341 members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) converged on Owerri, the Imo capital on Friday, for the 2023 National Bennial Convention.
The theme for the conference is “Post 2023 Election: Promoting professionalism for enhancement of democracy and good governance”.
In an opening remark, the Chairman of the convention and former Managing Director of the Sun Newspaper, Mr Tony Onyima, expressed concern over the growing threats of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the media.
“As we reflect on how we grapple with the post-election challenges, I urge us to begin to look at the threats of AI to our profession.
“I have discovered an App that is like AI reporter, which can report stories without reporters in the newsroom,” he said.
In an address, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chief Chris Isiguzo, called on media practitioners to recommit themselves to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and integrity.
According to him, our commitment to professionalism will shape the narratives, influence public opinion and help forge a society that thrives on transparency, inclusivity and justice.
“We must be the vanguards of truth, holding those in power accountable, while providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives.
“To achieve this, we must prioritise continuous professional development and capacity building,” he further said.
In a goodwill message, former Governor of Ogun State, Gov. Olusegun Osoba, commended the Nigeria media for their role during the 2023 General Elections.
Osoba said he was delighted that, in spite of political differences, Nigerians were able to overcome the issues of religion and ethnicity.
He, however, said that the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal would determine the depth of the nation’s democracy.
Also, the Chairman of the National Media Complaints Commission, Mr Emeka Izeze, who was represented by Mr Lanre Idowu, appealed for the cooperation of the guild in achieving the commission’s mandate.
“The Nigeria media in general subscribe to a guiding philosophy of journalism that is free, strong and responsible.
“The challenge has always been to marry the interest of the government, the media and the public in such a way that the attending tensions and conflicts are managed in a way that does not destroy the binding social force.
He urged the NGE to support the commission by “ensuring that it complies with the invitation of the ombudsman, publicising its decisions and by keying-in public trust in its processes.
“Since the adoption of the new Code of Ethics on Nov. 14, 2022 and the inauguration of the ombudsman on April 3, we have commenced work.
“With your help, we are determined to represent the best interest of the Nigeria people,” Izeze said.