By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndịgbo, Chief Damain Okeke Ogene, weekend, bemoaned the level of disregard presently faced by journalists, calling on members of the society to rise up and accord them due respect.
Okeke-Ogene was speaking as Chairman of the occasion at 2023 end of year get-together organised by the Correspondents chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council.
He argued that the Journalists often sacrifice their life and time seeking for various ways to better the society yet most people pay little or regard to them.
Speaking on "The evolution of modern journalism: challenges and opportunities", the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Paul's University Awka, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, urged journalists working in traditional or mainstream media to improve their knowledge of Internet usage.
Okunna also urged the professional journalists to also disseminate their publications through the social media and other new media channels so as to compete favourably and possibly outshine the bloggers.
On his part, the Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime identified journalists and the journalism profession as pivotal to development of the society.
According to the Press Secretary, Governor Soludo appreciates the role of the media in development work and acknowledged the hazards faced by journalists in their line of work.
He however described the partnership between journalists and the Anambra State government as imperative and urged journalists to consider the interest of ndi Anambra and the state government when publishing their reports.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents' Chapel, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council, Chief Chuks Ilozue, explained that the annual get-together was aimed at celebrating and to honour some of the media friendly personalities in society.
The Chapel used the occasion to confer awards of Excellence on the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Charles Esimone, the Acting Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, and the Transition Committee Chairman for Onitsha South Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Joseph Orji.