Journalists have been reminded that agenda setting is a veriitable tool in sustaining democratic culture.
This was the submission of participants and key media stakeholders during the town hall meeting organised by Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) in Port Harcourt.
With the theme: ”Agenda Setting for Sustainable Democratic Culture”, the main objective of the meeting, which was supported by the United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria, was to scrutinise the performance of the media in consolidating Nigeria’s democracy.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim said that media is the oxygen of a democratic process ,informing that it was the media that fought the military to a stand still for Nigeria to enjoy democracy.
Regretting the loss of honesty, intergerity and hardwork in the journalism profession, the Hon. Commissioner, noted that it is very challenging to be an objective media personality in a society where journalists are not well paid.
He however maintained that journalists should not neglect their constitutional responsibility of holding political leaders accountable because of the challenges of the profession.
Earlier in his welcome address, the NGE President, Mustapha reminded editors and other senior media managers of the sacred duties they are expected to perform by the constitution on behalf of the citizens.
He also said that the meeting was meant to instil in the editors the need to perform their duties with the highest form of ethical standards and sense of responsibility thereby reducing, if not eliminate, incidents of sub-standard and unprofessional reportage in the Nigerian media.
The representative of US Ambassador, Jeanne Clark x- rayed the importance of agenda setting by journalists in a democratic society and enjoined media practioners to assert their authority especially in this political season.
