The Director-General of the Delta state Orientation and Communication Bureau, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe has clarified that the information management council of the Delta State Government is headed by the state commissioner for information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, putting to rest anxiety in the media circles in the state as to who was in charge of propagating the official policies of the state government.
Dr. Oghenesivwe, who was a few days ago elevated by the state government from the position of Executive Assistant on Communication and Chief Executive of the State Bureau of Orientation to that of the Director General of the Delta State Orientation and Communication Bureau, made the clarification at the 7th Nigeria Union Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council’s weekly “Parley to Party,” which took place at the Delta State NUJ Secretariat on Maryam Babangida Road, Asaba, on Sunday.
Among the several issues discussed at the parley, Oghenesivwe stated that any state policy issue that requires briefing the press would normally be handled by the commissioner for information who is the head of the state communication council. This council, according to Oghenesivwe, comprises other media appointees in the state and it meets regularly to review the communication strategy of the state government.
Oghenesivwe made it clear that the information management hierarchy of the state government recognised the commissioner for information as the spokesman for the state government and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor as the official spokesperson for the Governor.
Responding questions on a recent press briefing by a communication aide to the governor who organized a press briefing to speak on policy issues, Oghenesivwesaid that a review of the said briefing had been done by the state communication council and it was impressed on the official concerned, and other media aides to the governor, that such policy briefings was outside their scope of responsibilities, stressing that it would no longer be the case, going forward.
Oghenesivwe called on journalists in the state to clarify their reports before publication, noting that unverified reports would create credibility issues for the journalists and their medium.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, admonished journalists to adhere to the ethics of the profession by ensuring that their reports were balanced and all sides of the story are represented fairly.
“Professionally, balance is paramount. If you hear something, don’t be in a hurry to make news. There has to be balanced reporting. Hear from the other side, it gives your report and medium credibility.
“Balanced reporting is part of the professional, ethical standards expected of journalists.”
