The seminar was organised by the DSS in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Council of the National Union of Journalists for members of the DSS press corps.
“We believe that in discharging its responsibility, the media must also take into account, the peculiarity of the country in terms of ethnic and religious diversities.
“The media must be responsible users of the pen and agenda setting such that the agenda we set must be one that can promote unity, cohesion and peaceful co-existence.
Afunanya urged journalists to shun fake news, adding that it is a deliberately-fabricated and disseminated information with the intention to mislead others into believing falsehood.
Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, the Chairman of FCT Council of the NUJ, in his keynote address, said that the theme of the seminar was apt in view of the current security challenges facing the country.
He said national security is the protection of lives, rights, dignity and property of citizens, adding that the aim is to secure the just and equitable living conditions of the populace.
Ogbeche called on journalists to use the powers bestowed on them in the constitution judiciously and for the interest of the public, noting that objectivity is key in the discharge of media responsibility.
He said security agencies, vested with the authority to ensure public safety, protection of the economic interest and political stability, would not achieve their goals without the media.
The NUJ chairman therefore called for mutual understanding between the media and security agencies.