Corporate Online Publishers tasked to weed out charlatans in media
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP have been tasked on need to help in flushing out fake media practitioners who hide under online media to perpetrate evil which negates the ethics of the noble profession.
Penpushing reports that, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development And Monitoring Board(NCDMB), Engr Simbi Wabote made the call on Thursday during engagement with the Publishers held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State
The Executive Secretary explained that the essence of the engagement was to have a frank conversation with online publishers and encourage them to censor fake news using the instrumentality of the law and self-regulation procedures, so they can maintain the enviable reputation they have earned in society.
Penpushing further reports that, Wabote added that, in similar manner, it was on need for online publishers to understand the importance of Nigerian Content to the national economy; and to continue to advocate for Local Content in all spheres of the Nigerian economy. (This the first time we are formally engaging online publishers.)
‘We want to have a frank conversation with online publishers and encourage your members to censor fake news using the instrumentality of the law and self-regulation procedures, so you can maintain the enviable reputation you have earned in society’, he emphasised. .
Penpushing also reports that, on a personal note he said he believe that the social media space and online media should not be gagged by laws, but must be regulated in such a manner that encourages the freedom of expression enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The Executive Secretary, pointed out that, the free exchange of ideas should be allowed to blossom, but, however, posited that citizens must not take the liberty to libel or slander one another.
‘As we all know, your freedom begins where the other persons freedom ends. As online publishers, you have a huge responsibility to condemn and weed out the bad eggs in your profession, and our society generally’, he emphasised.
‘Some of the online media platforms are undermining government’s noble intentions of bringing in technocrats and professionals to serve as appointees because of the targeted and unwarranted attack against these persons under the cloak of investigative journalism, thereby tarnishing the image of your wonderful profession’, he stressed.
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