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By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
Journalists who practice their trade Online in Edo State, have come together as a unified body: known as ‘Online Media Practitioners’.
The pro tem Chairman and Secretary of the body, Otunba Mike Aladenika and Sam Dada Ayokhai, in a statement said the body is determined to “cleanse” the online media profession of quacks who see the platform as an all comers’ affairs.
Towards this, it vowed to strictly regulate its practice in line with accepted norms and ethics.
The statement pointed out, that the online media version is not in any way different from the traditional media practice in the way news is gathered, processed and presented to the readers; adding only the trained and qualified journalists conversant with the ethics and laws of the profession, can adequately cope with the rigours and demands of the job.
They lament “invasion” of the online media profession by quacks, who think the only qualification required to be called an “online journalist” is the possession of an android phone; reiterating the body will set standards for practice .
The body will liaise with relevant authorities and similar bodies, in sanitising the profession and promoting the welfare of practitioners, it was said.
Also, strive to ensure its members display a high sense of professionalism to earn the trust and patronage of the public.
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