By Teniola Blessing
A media icon, who has contributed tremendously to the development of the media industry in the country, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi while featuring as Guest Personality of the Month at the broadcasting school, Royal Sky Media Academy, established by the popular anointed presenter, Enitan Olusegun Bamidele (EOB) tutored on ethics.
The former Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Philippines and Cambodia described the media as a bridge between the governing bodies and the general public, and considering this vital role of the media in the society, there is need for ethical issues. Said he.
Dr Farounbi who spoke for almost two hours dwelled much on the principles guarding broadcasting saying “whether a journalist is covering sporting events, entertainment news, or current affairs, they have a collective responsibility to abide by a code of ethics to avoid conflicts of interest that may compromise their integrity or impartiality”.
He averred that “as we are experiencing a media revolution during this era of digital-first news, journalism is more democratized, interactive and instantaneous than ever before. Anyone with an internet connection can open Twitter and make a statement that others may perceive as truth.
“As a result, professional journalists have an even greater responsibility to champion the truth, disprove fake news, and fact-check trending narratives to ensure the public have access to reliable information online”, said the veteran Journalist and ace broadcaster.
He added that “a journalist should promote universal principles of human rights, democracy, justice, equity, peace and international understanding, and should not copy, wholesale or in part, other people’s work without attribution or consent”.
While giving the vote of thanks, the Dean, Academic Program of the school, Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo thanked Dr Farounbi saying “we express our sincere appreciation for the professional and insightful presentation you delivered. Your expertise, wealth of experiences and exposition were truly commendable, and we found your presentation to be incredibly engaging.
“Sir, we were not only dazed but also dazzled by the way and manner you structured your content in an easy to understand manner which made it easy for everyone to grasp the key concepts.
“Furthermore, your deep understanding of the subject matter was evident as you expertly addressed various questions and concerns from the audience”, Ogunyejo noted.
Speaking in the same vein, EOB, the proprietor of the broadcasting school described the former ambassador as an icon of many parts. He prayed to God to grant him long life and good health to continue to serve humanity, saying Farounbi’s scholarly attainment and his excellent work in the media industry distinguished him from his peers.
He however, appreciated the humble disposition of Dr Farounbi for not minding coming to the less than one year old institute, saying his presentation must have left a lasting impact on the students, while thanking him for his exceptional presentation.
