The forner Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past Osun State Governor, Ismail Omipidan has charged mass communication undergraduates ournalists on the need to prioritizn⁶nnñqnnnnqe integrity and character while pursuing the pen profession.
Omipidan harped on honesty, truthfulness, self-esteem and contentment as legitimate roadmap to carve a niche for oneself in the media world warning them against get rich-quick syndrome for whoever wishes to go far in the journalism profession.
This is just as he instituted Annual Prize Awards for best graduating student in news writing in the department of mass communication, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State.
Speaking on Monday, at the Orientation Programme organized by the Mass Communication Department, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Omipidan described journalism as a tempting profession that requires high level of discipline, determination and self-contentment to subsume the avoidable temptation for survival.
Omipidan who was the Guest Speaker at the Orientation Programme underscored the importance of journalism ethics in serving as the societal watchdog and holding government accountable to the people.
The former Political Editor of The Sun Newspapers whose paper centered on the theme of the Orientation: “Journalism Profession: Potential and Challenges”, x-rayed the challenges and prospects in the journalism profession noting that it is incumbent on anyone aspiring to become a successful journalist of repute to embrace the virtues and do away with unworthy and unearned materialism.
“As students of journalism, you must begin to inculcate the virtues and professional ethics right from here as the profession provides you with enormous opportunities that may tempt you to compromise if you are not careful.
“As a journalist, one gets presented with offers that can only take a determined person to turn down. You must display high sense of discipline, integrity and character if you truly want to carve a niche for yourself in the pen profession.
“No doubt, the media profession has its own prospects and challenges such as professionalism, poor remuneration, job security, ownership structure/control, and censorship among others, hence, the need to champion character, honesty and good name for yourselves if you want to go far in the field.
“if nation building and service to the people are your passion, then, you are good candidates for the journalism profession but if the desire to make quick money is the driving force, then, you should seek something else since journalism thrives on integrity and character as it is the only profession that has the responsibility to hold government and people in authority to account”, Omipidan admonished.
Omipidan who is also the Media Aide to the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, acknowledged his boss, Adegboyega Oyetola, for distinguishing himself among his peers as a thoroughbred professional, technocrat and politician with a difference.
“At this juncture, I must commend my principal, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola CON for being a man of honour, integrity, dignity and character in whom I am pleased to work with. As a matter of fact, I stayed to work with him because of his integrity and character because I believe very strongly that he meant well for humanity. I tested him and I realized that he meant well for Osun people that is why I stayed to support him”, he added.
Omipidan was later conducted round the media facilities within the department after his presentation.
Earlier in his remarks, the Head of Department, Dr. Oladipupo Akinola, charged the prospective students of the department to see themselves not only as representatives of the institution but the society at large.
Dr. Akinola warned the students against vices capable of mortgaging their future and making them to lose their studentship saying “do not succumb to the temptations of cultism, examination malpractices, insensitive dressing, drug abuse, violence, sensationalism, bias or falsehoods”
“You are the watchdogs, the guardians of truth, and the voice of the people. Your words have the power to shape opinions, challenge injustices, and inspire change. But with this power comes an even greater responsibility—the responsibility to be exemplary role models.You see, as students of mass communication, you are not just representatives of this institution; you are representatives of society at large”, he added.
