Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River Chapter, turned out in large numbers on Saturday for a ‘Freedom Walk’ to commemorate the 2025 World Press Freedom Day.
Led by chapter chairperson Ms. Archibong Bassey, journalists marched in a peaceful procession through Calabar, holding placards with messages such as “The Nigerian Media Deserves Freedom, Not Fear,” “No True Democracy Without a Free Press,” and “Fake News Thrives When the Press is Gagged.”
During the event, Ms. Bassey called on all levels of government to create a safe and supportive environment for media professionals. “Societal ills flourish when journalists are silenced or restricted,” she noted, highlighting the mutual responsibility between the press and society in safeguarding truth and accountability.
As part of their outreach efforts, the journalists visited the Mother Elizabeth Redeemed Orphanage and the Medium Security Prison at Afokang, donating food and toiletries to both facilities.
The Chief Press Secretary to Cross River Governor Bassey Otu, Mr. Nsa Gil, addressed the gathering, cautioning journalists against premature politicking and encouraging them to focus on governance rather than elections. He urged media practitioners to embrace emerging tools like artificial intelligence while maintaining core journalistic values.
“It is wrong to copy and paste AI content without verification. Journalism still demands accuracy and accountability,” Gil stated. He announced that the state government will soon present its two-year performance report and appealed for accurate media coverage.
The World Press Freedom Day, established by the United Nations in 1993 and observed annually on May 3, honours press freedom and pays tribute to journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty. This year’s theme is “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.”
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