General News
Eagle Times Takes Flight as Media Stakeholders Demand Objective Journalism
One of the media entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, on Thursday in Abuja commemorated the nation’s 66th Independence anniversary with the unveiling of a new media platform, The Eagle Times.
This is as media stakeholders, including the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Press Council, Dr Dili Ezughah, tasked the publisher of the new platform to use it for objective reportage devoid of sensationalism in whatever form, by saying and reporting it as it is.
Sir Chukwunyere, in his speech at the unveiling of The Eagle Times, said the publication, launched on the day Nigeria clocked 66 years of Independence, would be committed strictly to journalism and not any vested interest, in line with its philosophy of truly serving as a voice for the Nigerian people and watchdog for the nation.
“Those words carry a responsibility. To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives.
“To be a watchdog for the nation means that we must ask questions, demand accountability and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibility, regardless of their political affiliation, social status or influence,” he said.
He added that the new media platform would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism.
“We will not publish simply because a story is sensational. We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them. And where allegations are made against individuals or organisations, we will endeavour to give them the opportunity to respond.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he stressed.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Press Council, in her goodwill message, tasked The Eagle Times to make its entry into the Nigerian media space with a positive difference by pursuing objectivity and not subjectivity under the guise of sensational reportage.
In his own goodwill message, a former Commissioner of Information in Sokoto State, Hon. Akibu Dalhatu, urged Sir Chukwunyere to use the new media platform to tell legitimate stories at all times.
“This platform, unveiled on a symbolic date of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, should be used to retire all manner of vices in the media industry and by extension, in Nigeria, by using it to say it as it is.
“Courage must be demonstrated by the platform to report uncomfortable truth and restraint must also be demonstrated from reporting comfortable lies,” he said.