Ekanem Charges Journalists on Credibility, Purposeful Reporting

 

...Announces 10 free slots for journalists into More Leadership Academy 

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot

The Senior Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Special Duties, Barr. Morgan Ekanem, has charged journalists to uphold credibility, verify information and remain purposeful in their professional assignments, warning against journalism driven by personal disagreements, hostility and unverified reports.

Ekanem said the effectiveness of the media in promoting accountability and responsible leadership depended largely on the credibility of individual journalists and their commitment to asking relevant questions in the public interest.

He gave the charge while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Syposium of the Federated Chapel Week, held on Saturday, October 10, under the theme, “Promoting Responsible Leadership, Accountability and Electoral Credibility.”

The Governor’s aide and Chancellor, More Leadership Academy emphasised that journalists must establish the purpose of every assignment before embarking on information gathering, noting that a clear understanding of the objective would help practitioners remain focused on their professional responsibilities rather than engage in unnecessary confrontations.

“Every time you go out to gather information, you must always define the essence: Why am I on this venture? Be purposeful. Don't miss the purpose and start attacking people. Any journalism that lets you quarrel with people is not journalism,” he said.

He maintained that the fundamental objectives of journalism included promoting accountability, credibility and responsible leadership in political and other spheres of public life, stressing that government institutions were more likely to respond appropriately when journalists asked the right questions.

“The very essence of this profession was to achieve accountability, credibility and responsible leadership, politically and otherwise. Government will not respond appropriately unless journalists ask the right questions,” Ekanem stated.

He, however, cautioned that the pursuit of accountability must be anchored on professional credibility, urging journalists to exercise discretion in handling information and resist the temptation to publish every report that came their way without proper verification.

According to him, a journalist's ability to hold public officials accountable is strengthened by the trust the public places in the journalist and the information being reported.

“A journalist cannot be sharing every report and news that comes their way. You must strive towards being credible. To demand accountability as a journalist, you must first be credible. It is called source credibility,” he said.

Ekanem stressed that information verification was indispensable to responsible journalism, noting that the spread of unverified reports could undermine public confidence in the media and weaken its capacity to demand transparency from government and other institutions.

He urged practitioners to ensure that their reports were supported by facts and credible sources, adding that the media's responsibility to inform the public required sound judgement and adherence to professional standards.

The keynote speaker also drew attention to the role of effective communication in accountability journalism, observing that the manner in which journalists presented their findings could determine whether their messages achieved the desired results.

He noted that factual reports and legitimate questions were sometimes interpreted as attacks because of the language, channel of communication or diction employed by journalists.

“A lot of the time, journalists speak facts, but people hear arrogance or attack because of the language, the channel and the diction. Leaders don't say things the way they are, but the way they should be heard. If you speak, and nothing changes, then you didn't speak,” he said.

He urged journalists to communicate their findings in ways that encouraged understanding and constructive engagement without compromising the truth or diluting the facts.

Ekanem's remarks underscored the need for practitioners to combine courage with tact, insisting that accountability journalism should be driven by the pursuit of solutions and meaningful change rather than personal animosity.

As an extension of his support to the Chapel, the Chancellor, More Leadership Academy announced the availability of 10 free slots for members of the Federated Chapel into the Academy.

The symposium brought together media practitioners and other stakeholders to examine the responsibilities of journalism in strengthening democratic governance, promoting transparency and building public confidence in the electoral process.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appoint electoral officers with strong character and an uncompromising commitment to integrity ahead of forthcoming elections.

John said the credibility of electoral outcomes depended significantly on the impartiality of electoral officials, noting that the appointment of persons of proven integrity would help ensure that election results reflected the will of the people.

He also encouraged journalists to maintain a balanced approach to accountability by acknowledging good performance while constructively drawing attention to shortcomings in governance.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Akwa Ibom State, in his address, charged journalists to scrutinise public policies, track campaign promises and investigate the implementation, quality, cost and impact of government projects.

Represented by Barr. Vincent Oghene, he urged media practitioners to look beyond official announcements and project commissioning ceremonies to determine whether public policies were delivering tangible benefits to citizens.

The electoral chief further stressed that responsible journalism required accuracy, fairness, independence and a commitment to the public interest, warning that political patronage, sensationalism and partisan interests could undermine public trust.

The 2026 Federated Chapel Week provided a platform for journalists and stakeholders to reflect on the media's responsibility in advancing democratic values and ensuring that public institutions remain accountable to the people.

Awards were given to deserving public office holders and institution including the Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon KufreAbasi Edidem; the More Leadership Academy; Comrade Friday Umoh, a renowned forebear of the Chapel, among others.