Freelance Journalist Federation has spoken against the call for the establishment of Society of Nigerian Broadcasters to regulate media practice, most especially the broadcast segment.
In a press release on Thursday, the group said, “The bill calling for self-regulation of the media in Nigeria is fraught with dangers, which should make such a piece of legislation not to be contemplated at all or even allowed to see the light of the day.”
According to the group, the bill is not just an effort to loosen the role of the National Broadcasting Commission as the independent body for regulating, monitoring and sanctioning erring violators of acceptable media ethical and professional codes but also to create a comfortable breeding ground for criminals to abuse freedom of speech.
The statement said: “As stakeholders in the media industry, we find it expedient to take a position on the clamour for the establishment of a Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) to regulate media practice particularly the broadcast sector. A bill to this effect is currently with the National Assembly.
“The promoters of the proposed bill draw inspiration from what is obtainable with the legal, medical and engineering practice. Laudable as their arguments are, they fail to appreciate the complexities associated with media practice. Why law practice is an exclusive preserve of lawyers and medicine for Doctors, same cannot be said of media practitioners.
In the history of journalism and broadcast in particular in Nigeria, practitioners come from journalism, mass communication, English, Linguistics, Sociology, Political Science, Estate Management, among other courses offered in the universities or polytechnics. Most of these courses have nothing to do with broadcast or media practice. Therefore, calling for self-regulation becomes untenable.”
It further stated that the bill would give power to every Tom, Dick and Harry having access to social media to call themselves a journalist.
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