Promoting Signatures of Excellence in the Media

By Patrick Albert

It is my pleasure to welcome all guests, media officials and journalists to this event of the official launching of Central Times Newspapers published by Central Times Newspaper Limited not just as the chairman of the occasion but also as the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council.

Let me confess that I was encouraged to accept the invitation to chair this event by the sound background and good professional disposition of the publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Central Times Newspapers, Mr Ani Udom.

Elder Patrick Albert, NUJ Chairman, AKS

As a professional body, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is seriously interested in members and media houses maintaining high ethical standards, public decorum and professional excellence in their duties. We detest wild and unfounded reportage contrived solely to malign the reputation of personalities, institutions and authorities.

The enormous power of the Press, as constitutionally provided in our statute books and by other international proclamations by the United Nations, is expected to be utilized to build the society and promote harmony.  Where our reportage falls outside the laid down rules as contained in the Code of Ethics of the profession, it is obvious that the society is bound to be misinformed or misled with false, unsubstantiated and ill-written information. And this could be disastrous. This is why we emphasize ethical compliance.

We encourage institutions of Mass Communications to deepen their tutorials on Media Laws and Ethics in order to sufficiently expose their students to the ethics of the profession. We are hopeful that Central Times Newspaper will continue to showcase excellence in journalism.  With the motto "Because You Have the right to Know", the reading public should be treated as the master while Central Times Newspaper should see itself as the servant. This implies total service and dedication to the best ideals of journalism practice. And as Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955), a German-born theoretical physicist and philosopher of science said, “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”  We need men and women in our clime who will be more concerned about giving more to the society. It is pertinent therefore to reflect on William Clement Stone ((1902 – 2002) American businessman and philanthropist’s wise saying that “Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.”

What is more, we see your official launching today of Central Times Newspaper as a rechristening process, having operated as NewsTime Newspaper since 2012. From the cultural, religious or cosmological point of view, rechristening goes with symbolic meaning. And we are sure that apart from the business sense of re-strategising to be more formidable and service oriented, your rechristening will attract divine interplay to be a formidable Newspaper in our own part of the world.

On behalf of the State Working Committee (SWC) and the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, I therefore congratulate the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the Central Times Newspaper and the entire editorial team on this new beginning and wish the Newspaper a successful editorial sojourn.

It may be necessary to disclose that 2014 NUJ Press Week coming up later this year will give recognition to reporters, editors and media establishments that have excelled outstandingly.

Also, with our NUJ ICT Resource Centre soon to be commissioned, we will inaugurate a committee to handle our proposed Akwa Ibom Media Museum to chronicle our sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in the journalism profession.

The intention is to highlight and keep the memory of our literary giants and to commend their worthy example and records as instruments of mentor-ship for media practitioners within our ranks and the upcoming ones. 

Once again, we appeal to public functionaries and politicians to place the interest of the State above primordial considerations and sectionalism. Politics of 2015 should not be made to decimate our togetherness as a people of common stock and destiny.

We have to emphasize that democracy as a system of Government of the people by the people and for the people demand collectiveness in the process of choice making and in the consequent benefits.  Free choices and equal opportunity to participate in leadership processes are what thickens democracy as well as give everyone a sense of belonging.  And in doing this, justice should be observed to give all the people of our polity a sense of togetherness.

The media in the state will partner relevant stakeholders to carry out voters’ education so as to sufficiently enlighten our people on their rights to freely determine who they want in all leadership positions in the forthcoming 2015 General Elections. We call on the Independent  National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fully prepare ahead of the elections to forestall avoidable lapses. We deserve improved and better electoral conduct that will be seen as free, fair and transparent and widely accepted by the contestants and the electorates.

   Once again, I congratulate the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the Central Times Newspaper and the entire editorial team on this official presentation and hope that you will make the paper a darling of the reading public. May God bless us all.  (Being an address presented by Elder Patrick Albert, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council on the occasion of the official launching of Central Times Newspaper at Amity Hotels, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday, September 06, 2014)