Functions Of Nigerian Guild Of Editors

Nigerian Guild of Editors, is nonprofit making organization, comprises of practicing journalists in Nigeria. One of the key functions of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, was to promote the interest of practicing journalists in Nigeria.

The body was expected to ensure that, the rights of journalists are protected, as they undertook their professional and constitutional responsibility.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors’ other functions include, the enforcement of the code of conduct in journalism profession.

The body must make sure the rights of the press is protected, any abuse of these rights are punishable by law. So whenever there is such abuse of the press’ rights, the Nigerian Guild of Editors will make sure that, such abuse of the right of press is punishable according to the law.

For instance, the law of libel, and the law of civil, and the law of criminal, as well as, the law of contempt, all deal appropriately with these abuses.

That is the reason, why the abuse of the right of press cannot be the object of declaration for example. Nevertheless, records and experience have revealed a good number of lapses in the practice of journalism in Nigeria.

And these lapses are quite prevalent in the profession, begging for code of conduct to be established in the profession for practising journalists in the country to observed, with a view to make Nigerian journalists kept or adhered to the standards, that guide the practice of journalism in Nigeria, as well as, fulfilling their true functions as the press.

What Are The Functions Of Nigerian Guild  Of Editors?

In pursuance of the mandate of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and to realize this mandate, the Nigerian Guild of Editors has to perform the following functions that I am about explaining in this article.

Nigerian Guild Of Editors Ensures The Confidence Of The Public

The Nigerian Guild of Editors ensured the confidence of the Nigerian public. The public supposed to be reading information that are correct, information that are true because they are entitled to correct information, and journalists are duty bound to make correct information available for the reading public.

Since correct and adequate information is what formed the basis of sound journalism, it there remained one of the functions of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to make sure that such objective is actualized in order the ensure the confidence of the reading public.

Nigerian Guild Of Editors Makes Sure Journalists Have Respect For True And Publishes Same

Another function of the Nigerian Guild of Editors is to make sure that, the practicing journalists in Nigeria have respect for the truth, and their reportage must be based on truth too.

Morally, practicing journalists in Nigeria are duty bound to have respect for the truth, everyone of them! While searching for news, investigation, it is expected of the press to make sure that, their findings are nothing but the truth.

And in the course of preparing to publish the information gathered so far, only the truth, that is in the best knowledge of the press should be published.

Nigerian Guild Of Editors Ensures Journalists Do Not Suppress Fact

It remained the function of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to make sure that, journalists do not suppressed facts. It is therefore, the responsibility of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to enforce standard, and make sure that, practicing journalists in Nigeria published information that are fact only.

When reporting, the press knows which information is correct and contains fact, and therefore, he is not expected to suppress the fact, when reporting.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors will have to see to it that, the press do not falsify any information in order to suit itself,  or some other purposes.

Nigerian Guild Of Editors Ensures Journalists Do Not Collect Rewards To Suppress News

The Nigerian Guild of Editors function remained sacrosanct, and one of those functions is to make sure that, practicing journalists do not accept rewards that will induced them to publish information that is suppressed, and is to the detriment of any member of the public.

That is why it remained the press duty to make sure that it reject some sort of rewards that could make it (press) to publish unbalanced information or suppressed the already collected fact.

Hence, practicing journalists in the country are expected to be contented with  their salaries and allowances, which they legitimately earned, while discharging their constitutional and professional responsibilities.

Nigerian Guild Of Editors Ensures Legitimate Means Of Accessing Information

There is legitimate means of collecting information, as a practicing journalistn, and so, what the Nigerian Guild of Editors does in this regard, is to enforce that principle and standard.

In this case, journalists have no option, than to keep to this standard, by employing every possible avenue in the course of collecting information for news reportage.

By so doing, the press would be able at all times to defend such right, which is the right to free access to news. Very important too, by so doing the press would also be able at all times to defend such information published, so far the press has followed the due process.

Nigerian Guild Of Editors Ensures Secrecy Of Information Source

Very important, is this aspect of the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ function, and it is very fundamental in the practice of journalism.

Journalists of course, collect information, and prepared the information with a view to publish it. Once this is published in form of news, it is expected of the press to adhere to the accepted universal principle of secrecy.

The press is not expected, no matter what happened, to disclose information source, which of course, it  collected in full confidence.

Therefore, in attaining this goal in the journalism profession, the Nigerian Guild of Editors has the right to enlighten practicing journalists in this regard and also make sure that they comply with the principle of secrecy.