As the work marks press freedom day, government has been urged to create enabling environment for media professionals to practice their trades under the most conducive environment.
In a statement by the Osun State chairman of Nigeria Union of journalists, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu and the Secretary, Bukola Elufadeju the union said media professionals deserved a decent life through a special wage owing to their roles in nation building.
The statement decried attitude of some media owners to the welfare of their staffers especially non payment of salaries and other benefits to media professionals while some are paying ridiculous amount to them.
It posited that media professionals are playing important roles in the entrenching democracy and its sustainability aside from being the key actors in the struggle for democratic system in the country hence, the need for special treatment for them in the country.
It noted that many journalists had been killed while other risked their lives daily in the task of sustaining the unity of the nation and projecting the country for national growth and development.
The statement added that the theme of this year celebration “information as a public good” attested to the significant of information to human existence and survival and its place in promotion of public good as well as good governance.
It explained that the theme also underlined the indisputable importance of verified and reliable information as it calls attention to the essential role of free and professional journalists in producing and disseminating information by tackling misinformation and other harmful content
The statement called on public officers to always give media professionals access to information saying, despite the freedom of information act some public officers still treat some kind of information as classified and confidential.
It maintained that media as the fourth estate of the realm must be seen as formidable partner in the task of nation building.
World Press Freedom Day which was declared by general Assembly of the united nation in 1993 provides an avenue to pay tribute to media professionals who risked or lost their lives in the line of duty.
