President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday urged the media to lead campaign against the insurgent group, Boko Haram by sensitizing Nigerians on the need to reject the message of terrorism.
Jonathan spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of a book “What they don’t teach you in broadcasting” written by veteran radio journalist, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji.
The President who was represented by Minister of Information, Labaran Maku described Orji as a trusted journalist who has made his mark on Nigeria media scene.
He however noted that the media must end its penchant for giving Boko Haram activities prominence as it makes them national icons.
“We are going through a very tumultuous moment because of the security challenges we have in the Northern part of the country. Today terrorists are more interested in publicity than politicians, and why is it so, because they know without the media they cannot make progress, without the media they cannot recruit new members, and so they use the advantage of the real media in democracy to sell their ideas.
“And I have made my point as Minister of information, that when Osama Bin Laden was celebrated by the western media after the 9/11 attack in United States. Every time you watch CNN, BBC, Sky News or Aljazeera, whatever he said became news.
“He was one person that had free publicity. And if you watch, every terrorist in the world today mimicked what Osama Bin Laden was doing, they have copied the ideology.
“This is because as you advertise those things to the world there are many people who are not equipped mentally to able to isolate what is dangerous. From the information the media you make terrorists look like something of national icons that must be celebrated.
“We must report from the point view arousing society to reject their message”.
You unite society against what they are doing; incite public anger against the evil of the terrorist activities. I am calling on all of us to able to define the thin line between the urge to report and the need to protect.
“This is because we need to protect people from the enormity of information that is being copied from these terrorists from the pages of our pages newspapers and the Television screens”, he added.
Ace broadcaster, Oseloka Zikora, who reviewed the book, recalled that the policy on the deregulation of the broadcasting industry plural choices in broadcasting.
According to him, it was anticipated that the deregulation would lead to improved quality in the message both in content, concept, context, comprehension and presentation.
Speaking about the book, Orji noted that it was part of his contribution to deepen the practice of journalism especially broadcast journalism in the country.Stop Making Boko Haram National Icon, Jonathan Tells Media
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday urged the media to lead campaign against the insurgent group, Boko Haram by sensitizing Nigerians on the need to reject the message of terrorism.
Jonathan spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of a book “What they don’t teach you in broadcasting” written by veteran radio journalist, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji.
The President who was represented by Minister of Information, Labaran Maku described Orji as a trusted journalist who has made his mark on Nigeria media scene.
He however noted that the media must end its penchant for giving Boko Haram activities prominence as it makes them national icons.
“We are going through a very tumultuous moment because of the security challenges we have in the Northern part of the country. Today terrorists are more interested in publicity than politicians, and why is it so, because they know without the media they cannot make progress, without the media they cannot recruit new members, and so they use the advantage of the real media in democracy to sell their ideas.
“And I have made my point as Minister of information, that when Osama Bin Laden was celebrated by the western media after the 9/11 attack in United States. Every time you watch CNN, BBC, Sky News or Aljazeera, whatever he said became news.
“He was one person that had free publicity. And if you watch, every terrorist in the world today mimicked what Osama Bin Laden was doing, they have copied the ideology.
“This is because as you advertise those things to the world there are many people who are not equipped mentally to able to isolate what is dangerous. From the information the media you make terrorists look like something of national icons that must be celebrated.
“We must report from the point view arousing society to reject their message”.
You unite society against what they are doing; incite public anger against the evil of the terrorist activities. I am calling on all of us to able to define the thin line between the urge to report and the need to protect.
“This is because we need to protect people from the enormity of information that is being copied from these terrorists from the pages of our pages newspapers and the Television screens”, he added.
Ace broadcaster, Oseloka Zikora, who reviewed the book, recalled that the policy on the deregulation of the broadcasting industry plural choices in broadcasting.
According to him, it was anticipated that the deregulation would lead to improved quality in the message both in content, concept, context, comprehension and presentation.
Speaking about the book, Orji noted that it was part of his contribution to deepen the practice of journalism especially broadcast journalism in the country.