Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa has urged Nigerian journalists to practice developmental journalism and tell evidence-based stories as part of patriotic efforts to positively project the country’s image globally.
The CDS gave this charge on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at a One-Day Roundtable Discussion with the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria, DECAN, at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, NCTC.
Harping on the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Security And National Interest: A Development Journalism Approach For The Defence Beat’, the CDS said developmental journalism will complement military efforts to safeguard the country, and enhance its sovereignty before nations of the world.
He charged the media to promote public awareness and understanding of security issues, while holding government, security agencies and other stakeholders accountable for their actions, as well as informing decision making by policy makers and security officials. “The adoption of developmental journalism approach allows for a more active collaboration with journalists and media organizations, enabling them to play a more active role in promoting national cohesion and stability by advancing Nigeria’s national interest,” Gen. Musa said.
In his Welcome Remarks, Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major-General A.G Laka assured of collaborative support from the “National Counterterrorism Center Office of the National Security Adviser” to “achieve and sustain disruption of terrorist propaganda”.
Commending the role of defence correspondents in nation building, he said, “It is in appreciation of your role in the counter terrorism efforts that warranted my prompt approval to your request for this important conversation”.
In his Paper Presentation which harped on the theme, Major-General Chris Olukolade (Rtd) take a cue from journalists of developed western countries to play down and soft on sensitive security information in order to douse tension and paint the country positively.
He charged journalists to prioritize national interest. Lending his voice to the call for adoption of developmental journalism, he said, “Nigerian journalists should adopt a developmental approach for the defence beat, focusing on the human impact of national security issues”.
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