Investigative Journalism, Key To Public Health Attitudinal Change – Pate
A communication expert and Vice-chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Professor Umar Ali Pate, had described investigative journalism as a key factor in changing the attitude of people who are resistant to change and healthy attitude.
He stated during a media dialogue on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, organised by UNICEF in Gombe that the world is evolving with latest trends of technology where people’s media consumption are changing with competitive demands.
According to him, investigative journalism must take centre stage in media organisations in order to change the attitude of people especially those resistant to healthy change.
He said, since the media is an important component of behavioral change, it must invest in research to change the negative perception of people towards development issues.
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The university don said, “commercialisation of the media hampers behavioral change in people. We have thrown away social responsibility and do not conduct research on development issues because they are not commercially paying.”
Professor Pate, therefore, called on the media to take the interest of children into consideration and minimise harm and danger to them as top priority by carefully thinking about the result of their actions.
He pointed out that if children are deprived of their childhood socially, economically, physically and mentally, the nation will be deprived of the potential human resources for social progress, economic empowerment, peace and social stability as well as good citizenry.
“The media is capable of mobilising and supporting social movements benefitting from its circle so that all children are safe from violence. The media can make or mar national development. They can facilitate positive change as well as stimulate positive actions for the rights of children,” he stated.
SOURCE: Independent
