Malagi Harps on Responsible Reporting, Pledges Conducive Environment for Media Business

Malagi Harps on Responsible Reporting, Pledges Conducive Environment for Media Business

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, has called on media professionals to put Nigeria first in their reportage and emphasise ethical, responsible coverage of events and developments in Nigeria.

The Minister also assured that the present administration will put policies in place to create the most conducive environment for the media industry to thrive for the benefit of the country’s democracy.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series (MPBS) organised by his office in Abuja on Wednesday, he said the Ministry has a mandate to manage and enhance the image and reputation of the people and government of Nigeria through a dynamic public information system that facilitates access by citizens and the global community to credible and timely information.

“I would like to urge you, the members of the press here with us today, or covering this virtually, to please report objectively and responsibly, through the headlines and the narratives that you will be reporting to the world from this Press Briefing. Our objective here is to enlighten, inform and educate Nigerians and the world, and to ensure that everyone is carried along through the provision of credible and timely information,” he said.

He continued: “To this end, at the Ministry, we have crafted and are implementing an Agenda that is based on the following five (5) pillars, in alignment with the Renewed Hope vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Pillar 1 is RESTORE TRUST: We are determined to restore trust, confidence and credibility to public communications, by engaging in a timely, proactive and consistent fashion with all our stakeholders, across government, the media, private sector and international community, deploying all available platforms and media.

“Pillar 2, closely tied to Pillar 1, is AMPLIFY POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES: We are highlighting and amplifying the policies, programs and achievements of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration, and the positive impact of these policies and programs in the lives of the Nigerian people. We are also working to showcase inspiring stories and narratives from and about this blessed and beautiful country that we call home.

‘Pillar 3 is REORIENT NATIONAL VALUES: We are implementing a series of national campaigns to achieve a reorientation of attitudes, values and ethics in Nigeria. We have already started work in this regard, and very soon we will launch Nigeria’s new National Values Charter, which will outline the rights and responsibilities that government and citizens have towards each other, and form the foundation for these national reorientation campaigns.

“Pillar 4 is MODERNISE TECHNOLOGY & TALENT: We are modernising and upgrading the Federal Government’s Information and Communications Systems and Personnel, ensuring they are relevant and fit-for-purpose for the 21st century.

“Pillar 5 is CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MEDIA: We are creating an enabling environment for all players and stakeholders in the media and information ecosystem: journalists, publishers, proprietors, etc.; through the implementation of favorable policies and programmes.”

At the inaugural session, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, fielded questions from journalists on the renewed hope agenda which is geared towards creating jobs through agriculture and achieving self-sufficiency in food production.

By PRNigeria