Abakaliki, 06 September, 2022 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Catholic journalists need to report “actual events” keen on the truth and fairness “no matter who is touched”, the Bishop of Nigeria’s Abakaliki Diocese has said, and cautioned against sidelining “the poor, those in the rural areas, those who have no voice of their own”.
In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration to inaugurate the Catholic Media Practitioners Association (CAMPAN) in his Episcopal See on Monday, September 5, Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu also urged Catholic journalists to put their faith "into practice" in their professional practice.
“Your job as media practitioners is to give true, fair news reportage of actual events that are unfolding. You’re supposed to do it no matter who is touched,” said Bishop Chukwu.
While there is the temptation to focus on prominent persons, he noted, “it is also good to reach out to the poor, those in the rural areas, those who have no voice of their own and your reportage will instigate change and transformation.”
The Nigerian Catholic Bishop underscored the role of media to making public servants accountable saying, “News reports expose what has been considered hidden and when you expose what is not right, people of conscience will rise up to condemn it and the weight of public opinion, opinion holders will force those who formulate policies to do something about the situation.”