Cleric urges journalists to uphold truth
The Lead Cleric of Victory Life Bible Church International, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, has charged journalists to remain steadfast custodians of truth and integrity in an era increasingly complicated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Achudume gave the advice on Sunday during the annual thanksgiving service of the Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Victory Cathedral, Abeokuta. The service formed part of activities marking the 2025 NUJ Press Week with the theme “The Future of Journalism: Navigating AI and Objective Reporting.”
He stressed that journalists must avoid partisanship and political alignments, warning that such tendencies could have damaging consequences for the nation.
> “Journalists must not be partisan. Journalists are custodians of integrity and fearlessness. We need journalists to write the wrongs in society,” Achudume declared.
The cleric also cautioned against monetary inducements, urging media practitioners to uphold their duty to the public.
> “As journalists, you must not be allowed to be bought by money bags,” he said, echoing Walter Lippmann’s description of journalists as “beamers of light” illuminating the public sphere.
On the disruptive impact of AI, Achudume expressed concern for the survival of traditional media.
> “The print media is now at risk; if care is not taken, it will lose out completely. A time is coming when we will not be able to differentiate the real news and the fake news,” he warned.
