By Barth Ikiebe

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Professor Muyiwa Popoola, has advised Nigerian journalists to uphold professional ethics and steer clear of conflict-inducing reportage, especially in the build-up to the 2027 general election.

Popoola gave the advice in a paper he presented at the maiden summit of the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

In a statement on Monday, Popoola stressed the need for the media to prioritise professionalism and ethical standards to safeguard the nation’s democratic process.

The Communication and Media studies Professor explained that while morality refers to generally acceptable behaviour, ethics deals with the criteria by which decisions on right and wrong are made.

According to him, political reports are often sensitive and should be handled with care to avoid inflaming tensions or taking sides.

“A good Fourth Estate of the Realm is expectedly a crop of socially responsible and development-oriented journalists that adopt the conflict-sensitive reporting approach to reportage of political conflicts and handling of hate speech,” Popoola noted.

He advised journalists to adopt conflict-sensitive approaches in their roles as gatekeepers and agenda setters, emphasising the importance of fostering democratic values.

“There are political machinations already in respect of the 2027 general election. Media professionals should help, more than before, to foster and stabilise Nigeria’s democracy and political development so as to continually prevent any unwarranted and retrogressive interventions in the nation’s political life,” he advised.

Popoola also called on the media to exhibit accountability, honesty, integrity, fidelity, fairness, and respect for others in the discharge of their professional duties.

While advocating for press freedom, he warned that its absence could hinder democratic growth.

“Freedom of the press, it must also be noted, is organically linked with societal freedom. In reporting the political process, for instance, if the journalist is denied this right, which is exercised through freedom of the press, the entire electorate is denied its right to information on the goings-on in its constituencies. Consequently, democracy can neither grow nor be consolidated,” he stated.

Popoola further identified the sources of unethical practices in journalism — including fabrication, misrepresentation, defamation, sensationalism, and content manipulation — as often rooted in political conflicts and hate speech.

He noted that these practices not only harm individuals but also erode public trust and the credibility of the journalism profession, especially when journalists allow personal, religious, ethnic, or socio-political biases to influence their work.

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