A new association that has experienced journalists as its members; the Online News Writers Association (ONWA) has been inaugurated in Lagos. Members of the new association have promised a self-regulated, credible, reliable and fair and balanced news reporting.
The event held at an upscale hotel in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday, July 31, 2022, brought together like-minded people in the online publishing business, who have served in different capacities at credible news outlets in Nigeria.
In her opening remarks, the President of the ONWA, Mrs. Omobola Oguntayo, noted that with the increase in internet penetration in Nigeria, resulting in upsurge of online publishing, ONWA will strive to follow the best practices of balancing free expression with the ethos of journalism.
ONWA, she noted, represents a high standard of online publishing principles that reflect the traditional journalism values devoid of cheap blackmail, harassment and false communication.
While encouraging members to adhere strictly to goals behind the formation of ONWA and its significance , Oguntayo said; “I am hopeful that this historic step is going to mark and signify our emergence as a formidable team of professionals among the existing crops. We have resolved to be birthed and we are now moving to the point where we will put this Association into useful practice not only for self-benefit but for the larger society most particularly the journalism industry that we strive to represent. By this, we are reaffirming our commitment to innovation, to lead and to improve the world around us.”
In his speech, Mr. Tade Asifat, the General Secretary of ONWA noted that the idea behind the formation of ONWA, conceived long before its inauguration, was to set a unique mark in news reporting as well as celebrate excellence. “We all need to double our efforts by ensuring we nurture ONWA to greatness. We can’t afford to fail. The industry generally is now crowded with gatecrashers, those that don’t have any business with pen and paper. That is why there’s a need for us to step up the game as professionals by creating a line of demarcation with a view to separating men from boys. Just as it’s spelt out in the aims and objectives of the association, it’s imperative that we improve the standards of journalism practice, especially the online aspect, across the country and beyond by majoring on fact findings with high level discipline and ethos expected of the profession,” Asifat said.
Mr. Tunde Ogunmola, the Public Relations Officer, also emphasized the need by members to constantly apply the core objectives of the association, by striving to improve the standard of journalism practice by being factual in their reports as well as writing stories that promote national interest without bias.”
The President, Oguntayo, however, assured stakeholders that the group will showcase an online publishing ecosystem with global best practices as it reels out its policies, procedures and protocols in due course.
