Renowned broadcast journalist and Channels Media Group Chairman, Dr. John Momoh, OON, has urged Nigerian media professionals to focus on truth, inclusion, and dialogue as essential tools for national unity and healing. Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Guild of Editors Biennial Convention in Enugu, Dr. Momoh emphasized that the media’s role extends beyond gatekeeping — it is fundamental to shaping the nation’s conscience.
Addressing editors, journalists, and newsroom leaders from across the country, he described the convention’s theme, “Building a Secure and Cohesive Nigeria: The Role of Dialogue, Inclusion and the Media,” as both timely and necessary.
“This is not just a topic — it’s a national conversation,” he said. “Nation-building is not just about unity, it’s about empathy. And healing begins when people are heard.”
Dr. Momoh called on the media to listen to marginalized voices — women, youth, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities — and ensure they are brought into the national dialogue. He warned against shallow reporting driven by sensationalism and urged the industry to raise its standards.
“Let’s pursue truth, not clicks. Let’s mentor the next generation of journalists with integrity and courage,” he urged.
He pointed out that insecurity, exclusion, and injustice cannot be solved without honest dialogue and fair representation, stressing that the media must not only highlight problems but also promote solutions, bridge divides, and foster understanding.
“There can be no security without justice, no unity without fairness, and no progress without inclusion,” he noted.
Reflecting on Enugu’s legacy as a cradle of journalism in Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Momoh paid tribute to the brave media pioneers who used journalism as a tool for justice and resistance, even during wartime.
He concluded with a challenge to all media professionals to rise to their responsibility.
“We are not just reporters of the present. We are architects of the future. Our work must not only inform — it must inspire. Not only report — but rebuild.”
