By Philip Nwosu
Catholic Bishops in Africa under the auspices of the Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) have called for proper remuneration of journalists as a way of curbing fake news and misinformation.
The group’s President, Most Reverend Emmanuel Badejo made this call at the weekend while addressing journalists ahead of the golden jubilee celebration of CEPACS in Lagos.
Speaking at the Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral in Lagos, Badejo decried the negative influence of fake news and misinformation on African development, saying that the menace would be tackled if journalists were well remunerated and empowered with requisite skills to function in accordance with the ethics of their profession.
According to him, with better pay and capacity building, the real professionals in the media industry would be motivated to be on top of their game, while purveyors of fake news, especially on social media platforms, would lose relevance.
Badejo explained that the Golden Jubilee celebration was an opportunity for the synod to appraise milestones recorded in promoting communication excellence across Africa and Madagascar. He said: “The CEPACS celebration assembly will begin with a Holy Mass at the Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral, Lagos at 10:30 am on Sunday, November 19 and continue at the Lumen Christi Television Premises, Lekki, Lagos, on Monday 20th November 2023 by 8:30 am.
“CEPACS functions as a committee of Bishops who oversee the communication offices of the 8 regions into which the Church in Africa is configured under SECAM. The committee also works through the communication offices of those regions and through consultation with Catholic media professionals and institutions”.
“The CEPACS assembly is an opportunity for evaluation and stock-taking in the work of CEPACS over these fifty years. It will hopefully reinvigorate CEPACS, promote new communications strategies for evangelisation, and update Church structures and policies for the future.
The Coordinator and liaison Officer, Continental Planning Committee, Very Reverend Father, Andrew Kaufa Ulemu, explained that it was the agreement of members to return to the cradle to celebrate with the local church in Nigeria.
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, represented by the Director of Social Communications, in the archdiocese, Very Reverend Father Anthony Godonu, promised to do everything within his power to make the ceremony a huge success.
The Golden Jubilee Celebration is expected to draw eminent personalities across Africa and Madagascar including the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu; Archbishop Adewale Martins; President Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.