By Archibong Jeremiah
Online journalists in Cross River State have been lauded by the State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Mrs. Rosemary Archibong for their activities in expanding the Cross River conversation using the web space.
The Commissioner who bared her mind with this reporter Friday further disclosed that the State cannot do without activities of online journalists.
Her words: “Online practitioners (journalists) have done amazing job, they have got across to millions of people, it is easy to switch on your phone and receive information. We in the ministry have realized that online communication has become the thing of the day”.
Asserting that, “Most youths are always on their phones and if you can access these platforms on just your mobile phone you don’t need to have a computer, so we have realized that in the 21st century we cannot do without the online media activities. So I will say they have done a lot for Cross River State, they have reached places where the print media cannot reach, they have reached places where the news might not reach”.
“I do know that sometimes there is overzealous attitude so you cannot say it’s been 100 percent perfect; we are learning and hope that they too are also learning from their mistakes. Now that there’s a law on ground to deal with erratic news reportage, falsehood and all that, people tend to be a bit more cautious.
“We should adopt effective, positive investigative journalism before we report, it is not just about online journalists it’s all of us, let us do a bit of investigation of the facts that appears to us as facts before we report, let us not just jump to information we hear or receive, lets be a bit more authentic in the positioning of our news items.”
Continuing, she urged practitioners “not be too sensational, let us cut down on sensational reporting, things that will excite. Let us be positive, inspirational without being over sensational.” She concluded.
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