Imo state commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Chinedu Offor, has called on journalists in the state to adhere to the ethics of the profession.
Offor made this appeal in an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Friday.
The commissioner called for the setup of an Ethics and Regulation Committee, which would look into matters of derailing journalists.
“I sincerely think it is time we declare a crisis situation in the profession; many journalists have turned into spokespersons for political parties while some have turned into fiction writers.
“Many of us have stepped away from the time honoured path of respectability and it doesn’t portray us in a good light.
“Don’t masquerade yourself as a journalist while doing things which disrespect the ethics of the profession.”
Offor called on the journalists to ensure objectivity and fairness in their duty as pressmen.
The commissioner also revealed plans of getting the Imo Broadcasting Corporation affiliated with the Voice of Nigeria and the launch of Imo broadcasting Corporation international.
Responding, the state chairman of the NUJ, Mr Innocent Igwe, thanked the commissioner while promising more stringent measures to curb the excesses of some of his members. (NAN)