“Everyone Is Now A Pressman?” — GOMEP-NG Raises Alarm Over Politicians’ Role In Journalism Crisis

The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) has raised concerns over what it described as the growing “debasement and bastardization” of journalism practice in Nigeria.

The National President of GOMEP-NG, Comr. Akpovoke Otiti, accused some government officials, political appointees and media practitioners of contributing to the decline in professional journalism by elevating untrained social media operators to roles traditionally handled by trained journalists.

Otiti spoke while addressing social media handlers and political actors, stressing that the ability to operate a social media account or write a few paragraphs does not automatically make an individual a journalist.

According to him, the rapid transformation of the media landscape has made it possible for virtually anyone to create and circulate content online.

However, he stressed that owning a smartphone or having access to social media does not amount to professional journalism training.

“Writing is important, but professional media practice goes beyond the ability to write. It involves training, ethics, verification, editorial judgment, accountability and an understanding of the responsibilities that come with disseminating information to the public,” he said.

Otiti criticised the growing practice of politicians appointing individuals without formal journalism training as media aides and allowing them to perform functions associated with professional journalists.

He argued that such practices undermine the profession and disregard the years of academic training and practical experience acquired by journalists.

The GOMEP-NG president said social media influencers, political supporters and online handlers have legitimate roles within the digital space, but their responsibilities should not be confused with those of trained media professionals.

“Respect the years of training alongside years of professional experience and exposure to the principles, ethics, responsibilities and technicalities of journalism and mass communication,” Otiti said.

He called for a clearer distinction between professional journalists and social media influencers or political supporters, insisting that trained practitioners should provide leadership on professional media matters.

Otiti also expressed concern over situations where individuals with little or no formal knowledge of mass communication are allowed to dominate discussions on journalism simply because they can write or operate social media platforms.

“As the National President of GOMEP-NG, I must say that I am not entirely comfortable being in a professional media meeting where someone without formal knowledge of the fundamentals and ethics of Mass Communication is expected to debate professional matters simply because they can write or operate a social media platform,” he said.

He further criticised what he described as a growing trend in which political actors allegedly turn virtually anybody into a self-styled “pressman”, with some individuals appearing at public events wearing uniforms and tags identifying them as press personnel.

“Today in Nigeria, our politicians have turned everyone into a pressman. They challenge even the core practitioners at field events, wearing uniforms with tags as ‘pressmen’. This is an insult to the profession,” he said.

Otiti questioned the practice of placing individuals without formal journalism training in charge of professional media functions.

“One will spend four years in the university studying the profession, while someone who has not even entered the four walls of a university can suddenly find himself heading a core professional media function simply because politicians have reduced the media to this level,” he lamented.

However, the GOMEP-NG president also turned his criticism towards journalists, accusing some practitioners of contributing to the problem by compromising professional standards for financial gain.

He condemned the practice of allowing people who are not journalists to produce news reports that are subsequently published by media organisations for what he described as “peanuts.”

According to him, the media industry must examine its own role in the situation and work towards restoring professional standards.

He urged media organisations and journalists to resist sacrificing professional ethics, editorial independence and journalistic standards for political patronage or cheap content.

Otiti said GOMEP-NG remained committed to promoting ethical journalism, professional competence, accountability and responsible digital media practice.

“The media space may have evolved significantly, but evolution does not erase professionalism. Everyone may have a voice online, but not everyone is a journalist,” he said.