A Professor of Mass Communication at Bayero University Kano (BUK), Nura Ibrahim, has called on online journalists to embrace ethical journalism by avoiding rumors, respecting personal privacy, and promoting inclusivity in their reportage.
Professor Ibrahim made the call while delivering a paper at a two-day retreat organized for members of the Kano Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
The retreat, sponsored by the Kano State Government through the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, brought together online journalists to strengthen their professional capacity under the theme “Strengthening Digital Journalism Through Ethical Practice and Responsible Online Engagement.”
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Speaking during the session, the professor, who is with the Department of Information and Media Studies, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano, emphasized the importance of balanced reporting and cautioned against the use of inflammatory or divisive language.
He urged journalists to verify facts before publication, promptly correct errors, update content where necessary, and remain sensitive to cultural and religious issues. He also stressed the need to avoid incitement and to ensure fairness in reporting.
Professor Ibrahim further encouraged online journalists to combat misinformation by relying on credible sources, explaining facts accurately, refraining from the spread of unverified information, and adopting responsible search engine optimization (SEO) and language optimization practices.