The chaplain of Madonna Catholic chaplaincy Umuahia, Abia state, Rev. Father Christian Uche Anokwuru (PhD) has task Journalists in the country to be fearless truthful and abide by the ethics of the profession as they carry out their respective duties.
The clergy man stated this on the mass service at the chaplaincy inside Madonna Catholic Hospital, Umuahia, during the rededication and thanksgiving service of thel Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Abia state chapter. He commended members of NAWOJ for deeming it fit to start the year with the lord.
Speaking the clergy man disclosed that journalism is a profession that is highly demanding and also important to the wellbeing of the society.
“Imagin a world without journalism noting that there would be a lot of vagueness in the society with little or no information”. He said.
Reverend Anokwuru, who is also the Hospital Administrator, Madonna Catholic Hospital admonished journalists to be fearless when reporting reiterating that once people know you as fearless and truthful you have not only made a name for yourself but will be a shining and popular journalists who society would always depends on for accurate information.
He revealed that with the emergence of social media, journalism is now under threat, in his words “the only thing that separate you from the social media is professionalism, another is following the ethics of the profession, these would stand you out from others.
Also your power of investigation, ensuring a balance reportage and avoiding placing money before the work raises the bar of your profession very high”.
Anokwuru who also is the Abia state chairman, Christian Hospital Association of Nigeria (CHAN) noted that with this ara of social media we see all manner of fake news, which if not well managed, are capable of creating chaos in the world and our country, reiterating that we are now in the ara of survival of the fittest.
Contributing, the South East, Zone C, Secretary, Mrs. Tina Oluchukwu Ikwegbu, (JP) thanked Abia NAWOJ for doing the needful by coming together to thank God for the new year.
She used the occasion to call on the congregation mostly made up of youths Corp members to know that there must be positive and negative sides of life and stressed on the need to move on with the positive and leave the negative side of life adding that it makes us grow and give room for avoidable mistakes.
In her remarks, the Abia State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs Beatrice Okezie Odoemelem, said, Abia NAWOJ under her made it mandatory to begin every year with the Lord, she thanked the church for giving us the opportunity to come and worship.
She disclosed that the nature of our job as journalists is very demanding and tasking, revealing also that during the Covid-19 and #EndSARS protest, journalists were in the forefront in ensuring adequate coverage.
However the NAWOJ Chairperson regretted that many Journalists died during the Covid-19 pandemic but thanked God that no journalist died in Abia hence the need to come and appreciate God.
Lending her voice the State secretary of NAWOJ, Henrietta Ashikodi appreciated father Christian Anokwuru for being a good friend to journalists in the state and for the free eye medical treatment he made available to journalists and the public during Correspondents chapel press week.
