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A lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Niger Delta University, Dr. Philips Okolo, has described the media as the bastion of democracy. The Don said this while delivering a lecture on The role of a free press in good governance as part of the activities marking the World Press Freedom Day in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

He said the important role of the media in fostering an environment of good governance needed hardly to be overemphasised. He said as the watchdog and interpreter of public issues and events, the media had a special role in every society, stressing that in an information-based society, the media had a disproportionately visible and influential role.

Okolo said, Democracy cannot exist in the absence of a free press. This is because democracy is based on popular will and popular opinion depends on the public awarenes and knowledge. It is the mass media that brings up, promotes and propagates public awareness. The main responsibility of the press is to provide comprehensive, analytical and factual news and opinion to the people on everyday issues and events of popular concern. To fulfil its duty and responsibilities, the press must work according to the fundamental principles of professional ethics, as well as norms and values of journalism.

Democracy can neither be sustainable nor strong without a free press. On the other hand, press freedom will not be possible without democracy. Therefore, the press must be committed to democracy. For this, the press must perpetually be involved in the establishment and promotion of democratic culture.

He urged media practitioners to be credible and trustworthy, adding that trust was the most valuable asset for any media, insisting that once trust was missing, it could not be earned back.

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