Mr Babatunde Irukera, a lawyer with Simon Corper and Partners, has urged media to always comply with the professional ethics of journalism to contribute their quota to the national development.
He said this at the ongoing capacity building programme for media on Consumer Protection Issues and Role of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Irukera, while explaining the CPC Act, said that role of the media was more critical in nation building just like those in the advanced countries.
Irukera said the media had constantly been mindful of their role in educating the public of their rights.
He said being the fourth estate of the realm, media should help sensitise the public to the mandate of CPC on consumer protection in the country.
He said there was need for constant reporting of consumer protection because there was still high level of illiteracy in the country.
According to him, those in the media profession are part of the five per cent of the elites in the country.
He urged newsmen to be mindful of negative reporting and it’s consequences on the economy and also therefore not relent in reporting the social ills in the society.
He also urged the media, as the vanguard of the society, not to be manipulated, to have a stable society.
He enjoined the media to embark on deliberate efforts to correct societal ills through balanced and accurate reportage.
“The more the media report the ills in the society, the more that brings about positive changes in attitudes of Nigerians.’’ (NAN)
