Nigeria’s Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has reaffirmed its commitment to sanitise the Nigerian online media landscape and declare zero tolerance for fake news and unethical journalism.
The President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, said in her welcome address at the Guild’s Book Launch and Fundraiser for its Media Centre on Tuesday in Abuja, that the Guild, founded in 2013, is a peer-review group of 120 professional journalists, who are mediapreneurs and united by a shared vision to promote ethical standards and resist the spread of misinformation online.
She disclosed that the Guild has introduced a robust self-regulatory framework to rid the profession of impostors and protect the integrity of online journalism.
“Our members subscribe to the ethics of the journalism profession, which upholds facts, truth, fairness and balanced reporting as sacred,” she stated.
Chigbo therefore called on stakeholders, government agencies, Civil Society Organisations, advertisers, and media collaborators to support the group’s efforts through investments, tax breaks and grants.
“Online publication is the future of the media industry, which the government and lawmakers have to support through enabling laws,” she said.
Speaking on the book, Nigeria Media Renaissance, which is being presented, she stated that it is a product of teamwork and divine inspiration and features contributions from GOCOP members, keynote addresses from renowned public figures, and a foreword by Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times, who has been congratulated for being one of the recipients of the National Honours announced recently by President Bola Tinubu.
According to Chigbo, the book reflects the Guild’s journey, ideals, and fight for professionalism in the increasingly influential online media space.
According to local media reports, Chigbo used the occasion of the book presentation to appreciate longstanding institutional supporters to the group, including the NNPCL, NLNG, FIRS, CBN and major media development organisations.
The reports added that she extended special appreciation to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who chaired the event, and Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), who reviewed the book.
Chigbo also used the platform to appeal to public relations practitioners and advertisers to direct investments to credible platforms that uphold journalistic integrity, noting that “small and profitable businesses are the engine of growth of any economy.”
“When you support us to run profitable businesses, you also strengthen us to serve you better as thoroughbred professionals with a critical stake in building a, society where justice, peace, and the rights of individuals are respected against Fake News and similar threats,” she added.
GIK/APA