The National President of the Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG), Comrade Akpovoke Otiti, has decried the declining professional standards in Nigeria’s online media industry, calling on practitioners to uphold ethics, professionalism and editorial independence.
Otiti made the call during the Guild’s monthly congress held in Abuja, where he warned that the growing trend of sacrificing professionalism for online visibility and web traffic was eroding the credibility of digital journalism.
He expressed concern that many online media practitioners had continued to undervalue their profession by publishing stories supplied by individuals and organisations without adequate editorial input or appropriate remuneration.
According to him, journalism is a specialised profession that requires investment, competence and integrity, stressing that practitioners must place premium value on the services they render.
“Many editors and publishers have sold themselves too cheaply simply because they want to promote their blogs. Media practice is a profession that demands investment, experience and credibility. When someone writes a news story for you to publish without any professional editorial input, it raises questions about the value you place on your own expertise,” he said.
The GOMEP-NG president maintained that journalists should not be treated differently from professionals in other fields, noting that lawyers, doctors and other service providers are duly compensated for their expertise.
“You pay legal fees before a lawyer represents you in court. You pay before receiving medical attention at a hospital. Why should professional media practitioners be expected to provide their services free of charge? If we fail to place value on our work, no one else will,” he added.
Otiti also frowned at what he described as the culture of excessive praise-singing among some online publishers, saying many expend time and resources promoting individuals who neither know them nor maintain any professional relationship with them.
He noted that such practices diminish the dignity of journalism and weaken the economic viability of online media organisations.
He urged members of GOMEP-NG and other online media practitioners to embrace professionalism, uphold ethical standards and develop sustainable business models that would strengthen the credibility of online journalism in Nigeria.
Otiti further stated that restoring public confidence in the profession would require discipline, ethical conduct and a collective commitment by practitioners to responsible journalism.
He reaffirmed the Guild’s commitment to promoting responsible online journalism through continuous professional development, strict adherence to ethical standards and sustained advocacy for the welfare of online media editors and publishers across the country.
