By InverstAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-The Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) on Thursday did its formal launching ceremony as world’s number one search engine firm, Google,  Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of Nigeria’s foremost newspaper Thisday and Chairman, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), six (6) state governments and others endorsed the Association.

At the launch Obiagbena, the Guest Speaker, commended the efforts of OPAN as a credible source of news platform in Nigeria.

In his address entitled “Positioning Nigeria’s Online Publishing for Global Reckoning” the Thisday Publisher expressed his delight at associating with OPAN, according to him, the online is a mass communication platform members of the Association should realize they are Journalists and must go back to old ways of doing journalism by investigating and crosschecking their facts before publication.

“You go back to the old fashion way of doing journalism, check your facts and write the truth. So, if you publish the truth, if you publish facts, if you set the right agenda, then you build the right brand online and if you build the right brand, you will get currency, you will get audiences, and it is those audiences that you monetize. So, you do a great business, essentially, I urge you to all return to that age old virtuous journalism,” he said.

Obaigbena reminded OPAN members not forget the purpose of the online space which is all about journalism and the media.

“You must realize that your principle role is that of being a journalist and you have chosen a platform that is digital and you are essentially part of us. You say we should speak about “Positioning Nigeria’s Online Publishing for Global Reckoning” where is the world today, what kind of world are we living in?” he queried.

According to him, news is now a thing that is immediate, readily available to everybody in the world. “The other day a Russian jet was blown up just a few metres into the Turkish airspace; but within a few hours the images were available online; even of those two Russian pilots coming down,” he added.

Obaigbena advised members to reflect and ponder on their roles as Journalists, “at a time of a changing nation, we have to step back and ask ourselves what role we play as journalists to shape and define the agenda. The World Wide Web is a place without laws. So online is a mixture of great journalism; but often brutalized by lies, propaganda, half-truths and scores settling,” he affirmed.

Mrs. Juliet Ehiuman Chiazor, Country Manager Google Nigeria who delivered the keynote address advised members on how to use the online platform in a more productive way.

According to her, the online platform especially in the area of news has a lot of avenues to be exploited which would be beneficial to members; especially in the area of generating online adverts.

On his part, Charles Aigbe, Divisional Head, Marketing and Corporate Relations, UBA Group in his paper entitled “Reporting with Credibility-Building Value & Trust with Stakeholders” advised members on the need for a fair and balanced reporting in order to impact positively the society.

“I advise you to be fair and truthful in your reportage,” he said.

Those present at the event include former Goveror Peter Obi of Anambra State, Ahmad Sajoh, Commissioner of Information, Adamawa State, Mrs. Joro Oladapo, Director Press and Publication who represented Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for Information, Lagos State, Onwuka Jonathan Nkem, Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Newspaper, Yemisi Fadairo, Special Assistant Information, Ogun State and Honourable Ossai Nicholas Ossai, Delta State House of Representative.

Others are Anthony Chiejina, Group Head, Corporate Communications and representative of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, Mrs. Bunmi Onyiola, Director Information Abia State, Ifeanyi Aniagor, Executive Assistant, Social Media to the Governor of Anambra State, Honourable Nnayi Obed, Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Abia State and Charles Ajunwa, Chief Press Secretary to former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji amongst others.

OPAN is modelled after international standards and affiliates; with specific deliverables to meet the needs of the Nigerian market, desires to deliver, through credible research, best practice publishing and ongoing engagement with the public; an online based ‘regulatory’ service that is founded on ethical practices with global best practice compliance in an increasingly digital world.

With its activities, it continues to promote and advance the policies of high-quality online publishers, since 2010; and before the corporate world – the press, government, the advertising community and the general public at large; a credible, reliable and sustainable information exchange.

The Association (OPAN) is committed to helping its members fairly compete in the marketplace with high standards and will act as a voice so that online users clearly understand the benefits that quality publishers provide to the public discourse.