A seasoned academic has called for a return to ethical journalism.
Professor Ayodele Odunlami, a distinguished professor of broadcast journalism, emphasized the importance of maintaining professional ethics in the face of evolving technological advancements. He delivered this compelling message during the 119th inaugural lecture at Olabisi Onabanjo University, held at the OGD Lecture Theatre.
Speaking on the topic, “(Re)moving The Ancient Landmarks? How Technology Deconstructs The Mass Media,” Odunlami warned against the uncritical adoption of new technologies, cautioning that it could lead to what he termed “media imperialism or second slavery.”
He urged media practitioners to leverage these technologies in a manner that reflects the African context, rather than perpetuating a dependency on Western paradigms.
Odunlami acknowledged the benefits brought about by technological advancements, noting the enhanced media convergence, increased access to information, and the rise of citizen journalism. However, he also highlighted several adverse effects, including the decline of reading culture, the proliferation of fake news, job losses, and the erosion of social and family ties.
“What we are saying is that to maintain a balance, we must go back to the ancient landmarks which are the ethical guidelines that are the basis of our calling as journalists. Many of us don’t even know that there are rules guiding us anymore; we see people doing things and we follow them to do the same thing,” Odunlami stated. “We have forgotten that everything we do in Mass Media is predicated upon certain values and norms that have been time-tested. We need to go back to those old ways of our value system, our ethics, and theories so that we won’t lose our sense of direction and steam.”
The professor stressed that while technology and mass media are inseparable, the continuous chase to keep up with technological advancements could leave African media practitioners in a perpetual state of dependency. “As we are trying to catch up and adjust to one technology, another one is being discovered or upgraded, keeping us in a state of perpetual media imperialism because we keep depending on them, which is not good for us,” he explained.
“But what we are saying is that even with the coming of this technological advancement, we should contextualize it in terms of African values, in terms of our language and culture. We should be able to inject into them those things that are germane to our conditions,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Professor Ayodeji Agboola, lauded Odunlami as a God-fearing, enterprising, and brilliant scholar. He urged the professor to continue using his extensive knowledge to advance the frontiers of humanity and academic excellence.