By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Simon Kolawole, renowned journalist, writer and publisher of the Cable News online, who spoke on the dilemma between journalism and activism at the sixth edition of the annual University of Lagos, Mass Communication Alumini Association (UMCAA) Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall on Thursday said, “A journalist is under objectively and obligation to balance the report, a story must have two sides and fairness, while activism tries only to promote one side of the story.
“Journalism is not activism because the rules guiding journalism are different from activism.
There are universal rules of engagement for journalists while there are no universal rules guiding activism.
“Although objectivism does not make a journalist perfect but journalists must work with facts. Journalists are expected to get to the root to get and report every details.
“While some people see Journalism as a means to pursue activism because they have the passion for human right but there should be a line between professional journalism and core activism.
“But for activist who want to do journalism must abide by the rules of journalism. The activist journalist must also understand which should come first if there is a conflict between activism and Journalism but must abide by the ethics of journalism. Journalist work hand in hand with activists but there is a boundary between activism and journalism,” he concluded.
Professor Ogunsola FAS, Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by Professor Obalola, Dean of Students Affairs gave the goodwill message of the Vice-Chancellor, he said, “Anybody can be an activist but not everybody can be a journalist. You must go through school to be a journalist. Journalists are meant to be professional in their conduct.”
He charged the students to specialise their knowledge they gain in the training to build a better society.