Professor Nura Ibrahim Advocates Ethical and Inclusive Digital Journalism
Prof. Nura Ibrahim, has called on online journalists to uphold ethical standards, engage responsibly with the public, and respect privacy in the discharge of their professional duties.
Prof. Ibrahim made the call while presenting a paper at a two-day retreat organised for members of the Kano Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
The retreat, sponsored by the Kano State Government through the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, brought together online journalists with the aim of strengthening their professional capacity. The programme was held under the theme, “Strengthening Digital Journalism Through Ethical Practice and Responsible Online Engagement.”
In his presentation, the professor from the Department of Information and Media Studies, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano, emphasised the importance of balanced reporting and cautioned journalists against the use of inflammatory or sensational language.
He urged media practitioners to promote inclusivity, uphold cultural and religious sensitivity, avoid inciting content, and ensure thorough verification of facts before publication. According to him, the prompt correction of errors and timely updating of content where necessary are critical to sustaining public trust in digital media.
Prof. Ibrahim further encouraged online journalists to play an active role in combating misinformation by providing accurate explanations of issues, citing credible sources, and refraining from the spread of rumours. He also advised the adoption of language optimisation tools and responsible search engine optimisation (SEO) practices to enhance credibility and audience reach without compromising ethical standards.
