The point made by Chief Justice Emmanuel Akimoye Agim, when court reporters met him in his office in
Chief Justice Agim stated that there is a need for people to be informed, and that information has to be disseminated by journalists in the society. What can be more truthful, given the fact that journalists’ job requires them to report on both the pleasant and the sordid aspects of society, and thus contribute to enlightenment in matters of national interest.
For all too often, most people regard the journalist as the enemy of the powers that be when, in actual fact, the journalist does not see himself or herself in that light. What the journalist is, and sees as his/her role in the society, is to serve as a watchdog that keeps an eye on developments in society, and reports or comments on them as mandated by the constitution of the Republic.
As we always emphasize on these pages, news consumers have to learn to take the good with the bad, as the journalist does not create news; he or she reports it as he or she sees it, whether it’s good news or bad news.
Therefore, we hope and pray that news consumers would give good consideration to the CJ’s point, and see journalists as citizens contributing their quota in national development.
People should also understand that no genuine journalist, and a citizen of this country for that matter, enjoys reporting news that will damage the image of this country.
As such, it is high time that people tried to tolerate the work of the journalists.
We quite agree with the Chief Justice that the press has to be objective, transparent and be balanced.
“The press is the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man, and improving him as a rational, moral and social being”
Thomas Jefferson
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