NIPR President Tasks Journalists on Responsible, Ethical Political Reportage
As preparations for the 2027 general elections get underway, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku has called on journalists to embrace a responsible communication culture by ensuring that they feed the public with accurate and objective information.
He made this appeal on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the 2nd annual lecture of the National Association of Political Correspondents (NAPOC) themed, "Media, INEC Security Agencies and the Integrity of the 2027 General Election"
He said journalists have a responsibility of upholding the nation's peace and stability by being factual and authentic with information being released to the public, cautioning that the manufacturing of figures during elections could throw the nation into chaos.
"In any election, if you don't inculcate the needed emotional intelligence of being careful and sure of what you are communicating, you may cause a serious problem. In a situation where you dish out information that doesn't exist, you are misinforming and deceiving the public. As journalists, you must weigh what you do and embrace the concept of responsible communication, he said.
While calling for progressive energy for 2027, Dr. Neliaku urged the political class and their supporters to avoid overheating the polity with their choice of communication language.
