Polaris Bank organizes workshop for online journalists 

PORT HARCOURT, Rivers, Nigeria – Polaris Bank of Nigeria has organized a one day workshop for online journalists in Rivers State. The workshop tagged ‘Online Journalism in the era of fake news’ took place on Monday, in Port Harcourt, the state capital. 

Declaring the workshop open, the bank’s Regional Head in Port Harcourt, Mr Raphael Abiaziem said the bank has the transformation of the Journalism profession as part of its core values. The Business Development Manager, Mr George Gabriel Whyte who represented him solicited for the support of journalists.

Speaking at the event, Head of Strategic Brand Management of the bank, Mr Ndunuche Ezurike explained that his bank holds the journalism profession in high esteem because of its contributions to the growth of society, pointing out that the bank decided to organize the workshop on fake news because of its ernomous dangers to the development of society. 

Promising that his organization would arrange more of such workshops  as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and to support the profession as well as get feedback from the people, he urged participants to share what they have learnt with their colleagues and to ensure that their reports are thoroughly verified to avoid fake news.

Earlier, Head Public Communication of the bank, Mr Lanre Rasheed Bolarinwa had told participants at the workshop that this was the third in its series to uplift the journalism profession, having done same in Lagos and Abuja. 

Facilitator of the workshop, Mr Taiwo Obe, Founder/Director of the Journalism Clinic harped on the need to always verify newsreports. “One tool needed in today’s journalism is eternal vigilance. Treat everything as April Fool. Journalism is endangered with all forms of manipulations and the only remedy is to always verify news reports.”