GOCOP LAUNCHING

Government at all levels have been charged to invest into online media as this is the future wealth of the Nation.


This was revealed by Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group during the formal launching of the Guild Of Corporate Online Publishers held at Eko Hotels & Suites on Thursday. Ekeh who was the key speaker of the event disclosed that the future of the nation is embedded in online media and there is every need for any serious Government to key into it.


While addressing the attendees, the Zinox Chairman reaffirmed that the internet and Online Journalism has reduced the cost of acquiring knowledge and it is a mega wealth business, for any journalist to be relevant in this global age, it is important for such journalist to get acquitted with the online media.



According to him, "  online is a mega wealth and the future of the country and every individual must make his or herself relevant in the system, every generation has its own wealth platform and Online media is the wealth platform of the future generation," Ekeh said.


He future encourage every online publishers not to be discouraged but work more on the quality of their contents. In his words, " you must look at the quality of the content you deliver, you must cause major traffic if you want to be popular and relevant Online. The IT guru admitted that the online media has it good, bad and it ugly sides but every online publisher must strive to give his best.


Ekeh, who pioneered Online media in the country  charged the Federal government to fix knowledge infrastructure and provide free internet facility across the nation.


In his own remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola (Forrmer Chairman, Punch Newspaper) confirmed that he pioneered the online publication of punch newspaper. To the Chairman, online publications brings credibility to stories and makes reporters more accountable to the publics and Online Journalism is not basically for profit making but it must be goal oriented. In his words, " to go into online, you must have a goal, the goal of loving what you are doing, it is not about money making," the Chairman submitted.


Ogunshola admonished every Online publisher to ensure credibility and objectivity in their reports and the purpose of GOCOP is to curb the excesses of Online publishers and to get rid of quack in the profession.


On his own part, Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, assures that the presidency will continue to support online Journalism because, online media cannot be sideline in the administration and any government. Adesina admonished every online publishers to be credible in their news reportage because, operating online does not give anybody the license or liberty to use fowl language or give false reports. According to him, online media can raise or pull down any administration and every publishers must make their light shine in the practice of the profession," Adesina submitted.


The special Adviser sieze the opportunity to charge GOCOP to fish out every bad eggs in the profession especially the quacks who may want to tarnish the image of the body.


While addressing the audience, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara who was represented by Hon. Abdulrasak Namdas, (Member, ad hoc committee on Media), reaffirmed that the members of the house of Representatives shall continue to support the online media because the news break faster through online media. The Lawmaker confirmed that there is a need to regulate and control the online practice in order to get rid of quacks in the industry. According to Namdas, " online media is very viable and it requires creative minds to succeed in it, online media helps to checkmate and curb corrupt leaders in governance, "he said.


In his own address, Malachi Agbor, President of GOCOP, said that the future of new media lies on the internet and most Newspapers are now operating their online version which is a new phase of media. According to the President, " the media play a major role in Nation's development and online media provides credible news stories," he said.


The President reassures that GOCOP shall continue to advocate the right ethics of journalism.