By Adamu Yusuf
The Kanwan Katsina and District Head of Ketare, Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara, mni, has urged online media practitioners in Katsina State to uphold the ethics and professional standards of journalism in the discharge of their duties.
He made the call during the inauguration of executives of the newly established Online Media Chapel in Katsina, where he emphasised the importance of professionalism, accuracy, fairness and responsibility in news reporting.
Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara, who is also the Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Katsina State Council, noted that strict adherence to journalistic ethics was essential to building public trust and enhancing the credibility of online media platforms.
The newly inaugurated executives, elected to serve for a one-year tenure, are Abubakar Shafi of Mobile Media as pioneer chairman, Mustapha Sadiq of Katsina Post as secretary, and Zaharadeen Ishaq of Katsina Times as treasurer.
The royal father urged members of the chapel to ensure regular payment of their membership dues and establish a functional secretariat to facilitate the effective coordination of their activities.
He also cautioned media owners and practitioners against publishing unverified information, stressing the need to thoroughly authenticate reports before dissemination to prevent the spread of misinformation and misleading content.
The Kanwan Katsina further charged the newly inaugurated executives to provide purposeful leadership, foster unity and promote mutual cooperation among online media practitioners across the state.
He assured members of the chapel of his continued support and guidance, noting that his doors remained open to them whenever they required advice or assistance.
The royal father congratulated the newly inaugurated executives and wished them a successful and productive tenure.
The inauguration marks a significant step towards strengthening professional journalism, promoting responsible online reporting and ensuring greater adherence to ethical standards among digital media practitioners in Katsina State.
Editing by Khadija Kubau
