The lead cleric at Victory Life Bible Church International, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, has called on journalists to remain steadfast custodians of truth and integrity in an era increasingly complicated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the annual Thanksgiving service of the Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held at Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC), Victory Cathedral, Abeokuta, marking the NUJ Press Week 2023 themed “The Future of Journalism: Navigating AI and Objective Reporting”, he stated that “Journalists must not be partisan,” underscoring the imperative for media practitioners to eschew political alignments that could have negative effects on the nation.
“Journalists are custodians of integrity and fearlessness,” he affirmed, positing that journalists serve as vital bridges between governance and the governed. “We need journalists to write the wrongs in the society.
“As journalists, you must not be allowed to be bought by money bags and should live up to expectation in the discharge of your duty,” he enjoined, echoing Walter Lippmann’s notion of journalists as “beamers of light” illuminating the public sphere.
Achudume also dwelt on AI’s disruptive impact on journalism, noting technology’s encroachment on journalists’ métier.
“The print media is now at risk; if care is not taken, it will lose out completely,” he warned. “A time is coming when we will not be able to differentiate the real news and the fake news.”
He linked misinformation’s fog to journalists’ need for professionalism amidst proliferating online bloggers masquerading as legitimate practitioners.
“Journalists should be distinct; they should up their game,” he continued. “Every nation needs sensible, resourceful, and reliable journalists.
“AI has come to do more harm,” cautioning that current applications might suggest “as if God is not in existence” – underscoring ethical concerns.
“I see journalists as partners in progress, and I will always support them,” he professed.
Achudume commended Nigerian journalists, singling out Ogun State journalists for living up to expectations, urging them to enhance their performance so they won’t be relegated to the background.
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In a remark, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, Ogun State NUJ Chairman, lauded Apostle Achudume for consistent support to journalists. He eulogized the late Reverend Fola Achudume as a “virtuous woman of immense compassion, a beacon of goodness, and an exceptional leader whose impactful deeds and love for humanity left an enduring mark”, noting that the NUJ donated bags of rice and cartons of noodles to her Royal Ladies Foundation appreciating her gestures and love for journalists.
The annual Thanksgiving service culminated with NUJ members dancing in their white and green attire, giving adoration to God, and praying fervently for continued guidance and blessings.
