Maku tasks media on proactive reporting

By Evelyn Okakwu

Journalists in Nigeria have been urged to be pro-active in their approach to duty.
The call was made by the information minister, Labaran Maku, while addressing newsman at a book lunch in Abuja, recently.

Maku stated that with the advent of the social media and other forms of technology, journalism in recent times has have been taking steps ahead, from reporting what has just happened to reporting what is about to happen.
“Today, stories are carried about events even before they happen. The technology in circulation has taken news a step ahead, such that issues are now reported even before they happen in detail; Journalists today do not make as much research as they used to during our time. I read a lot of stories and what I learn from the content of reportage of media stories today is that journalists lack the knowledge that can come only from extensive reading and research”, he stated.

He called on media practitioners to be meticulous in the reports they write about terrorism. “I have come to understand that terrorists seek media coverage more than anything else. While it is necessary to report terrorist activities, the need to draw a line between doing such reports as pro-active measures against terror and giving terrorists an undue publicity becomes necessary”, he noted.
The Minister called on Nigerians to be strong in the fight against terrorism:
“Nigerians must stand firm against terrorism and work with government to ensure that our dear country is not destroyed by evil people who have used the undue advantage of some selfish Nigerians to unleash terror on the country”.
He said the terror reports in various media have given the terrorist easy access to publicity, adding that a check on the rate of reportage would have a similar effect on the rate of terrorist activities across the country.