The Kanwan Katsina and District Head of Ketare, Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara, has urged online media practitioners in Katsina State to uphold professional ethics and standards in the discharge of their journalistic responsibilities.
Kankara made the call during the inauguration of executives of the newly established Online Media Chapel in Katsina State, where he emphasised the need for accuracy, fairness, professionalism and responsible journalism.
The traditional ruler, who is also the Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Katsina State Council, said adherence to ethical standards was essential to building public trust and strengthening the credibility of online media platforms.
He cautioned media practitioners and owners against publishing unverified information, urging them to ensure that all reports were properly investigated and authenticated before dissemination.
According to him, the spread of misinformation and misleading content could undermine public confidence in the media and damage the reputation of journalism as a profession.
The monarch also urged members of the chapel to prioritise the regular payment of membership dues and establish a functional secretariat to facilitate effective coordination and smooth running of the association.
He further charged the newly inaugurated executives to demonstrate purposeful leadership, promote unity and encourage cooperation among online media practitioners across the state.
The Kanwan Katsina assured members of his continued support and guidance, adding that his doors remained open to them whenever they needed advice or assistance.
The newly inaugurated executives, who are expected to serve for a one-year tenure, include Abubakar Shafi of Mobile Media as pioneer chairman, Mustapha Sadiq of Katsina Post as secretary, and Zaharadeen Ishaq of Katsina Times as treasurer.
Kankara congratulated the executives on their emergence and wished them a successful tenure.
The inauguration is expected to strengthen professional collaboration among online media practitioners in Katsina State and promote responsible journalism in the digital media space.
