Journalism In A Rapidly-Changing World - By Nifemi Orimabuyaku

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Journalism as a profession is as old as human being. God used communication to create world and her existence together with the inhabitants. Though, it becomes more professional when the operations became more advanced till the present moment when one can decide to be at the comfort of his home to some extent and put up professional touch to make up news to the society. 


Journalism  according to Merriam Webster's dictionary is "the activity or job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio. It is also the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media" and it was first used in the year 1791. 


Journalism is a

tried and true source of getting accquainted with recent happenings all over the world. 


In a world where things are constantly evolving and several other professions seem to be falling apart and not adapting to the new system of science and technology, journalism seems to be greatly helped. The activities of the media as a mediator or intermediary as the case may be between the people and the government or several other fields and walks of life has been well managed overtime by the journalist through the use of the 21st Century accessories and gadgets, and now the people can get legitimate information in the comfort of their homes without necessarily getting a newspaper which has now been a great departure from the past.


Now, a new term has found its way into the field of journalism because of the rapid evolution of the profession, and this new term is "Citizen Journalism". Citizen journalism according to Wikipedia "is based upon public citizens playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing, and disseminating news and information". This form of journalism is taking a full course in the nation and world at large. Presently, anyone with a smartphone can disseminate information of any kind within a short period of time professionally which has greatly helped, not without its disadvantages though.


Virtually all firms, companies or organizations that deal with journalism today now have an online presence, more than just the news papers, televisions or radio, they have pages online, that news could be read or verified through. This is journalism evolving in a rapidly changing world.


 Now citizens of a nation can conveniently listen and get the updates of happenings in their local environment or suburb back at home. Journalists do not necessarily have to go to beats to get information any longer except if there are core information needed. Journalists also do not need to go to the marketplace, offices before they get the public opinion of the citizens, the social media has bridged the gap. 


The End SARS protest, a recent happening in Nigeria started on Twitter, through the use of hashtags and in a twinkle of an eye, it got so viral, people posting videos and pictures of how they've been assaulted by the Special Anti Robbery Squad which led to several media firms both nationally and internationally covering the story.


Journalism occupies a significant position in the world at large, it plays a vital role of exposing and correcting the ills in the society, it's an hope to those in despair and a backbone to the society at large. It is what keeps both the citizens and leaders in check and makes everyone accountable to one another. 


The Relevant Media Laws and Section 22 and 38 of the 1999 constitution respectively and also,Freedom of Information Act, 2010 boldly assert and give  journalists the freedom to freely perform their duties as the case may be. Unfortunately, this hasn't been really found its full expression in our society ditto several other human rights organizations.


In the last EndSARS protest, it was recorded that some specific media outlets who aired the extreme harshness and cruelty of the Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) ,other security outfits were asked to pay a fine by the National Broadcasting Commission for  violating the code of ethics by airing unverifiable clips and footages, which isn't meant to be so. 


Journalism is  part of the society that will continually thrive, because virtually everyone practises journalism one way or the other every day, but the authenticity of the information been disseminated is one of the core roles of journalist and journalism.

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