A Journalist Is Not Owned

A true journalist does not bow, nor do they take sides. At their core, they remain independent, grounded in objectivity and guided by responsibility to the truth. Even when personal beliefs exist, they are held with discretion, never allowed to interfere with the integrity of their work. A journalist may vote, but their choices remain private, as their public voice must remain impartial.

The ability to podcast or post photos, videos, or photography is not, in itself, journalism. These are tools, not the craft.

Journalism is built on skill, discipline, and responsibility. Every true journalist must know how to write with clarity, edit with precision, and report with accuracy. They must be able to gather, verify, and present information across multiple formats, from print to audio to visual, without compromising truth.

To work in multimedia is not simply to create, but to produce with purpose. It requires structure, context, and ethical grounding.

There is nothing wrong with visibility as a journalist. In fact, there is value in showing your process, your life, and moments behind the scenes. It humanizes the work and connects you to your audience. But credibility is compromised when visibility becomes the goal at the expense of integrity, when one begins to publicly support individuals or politicians, take contracts that influence coverage, or bow to those in power for access or recognition.

A true journalist does not publicly support individuals or groups, and they are not owned by anyone. Their independence is their credibility. Their loyalty is to truth, not allegiance.

Let me take a page from Muhammadu Buhari: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.” This is the posture. This is the standard.

But I also acknowledge this: I wholeheartedly support the Federal Government of Nigeria in its mandate to serve the people and advance the nation. Support, however, must never replace scrutiny. Respect must never silence truth. And support does not mean I sell myself in the name of journalism.

What we have today, in many cases, are content creators, not journalists. Many do not understand or uphold the weight of media law and ethics that govern the profession.

Content can be made by anyone. Journalism, however, must be earned through rigor, training, and an unwavering commitment to standards that go beyond visibility.

A journalist does not chase attention. They build trust.

Fatima D Dangogo

Comments

Duality vs Oneness

In many mystical traditions, God is seen as the One Source of all that exists. From this perspective, nothing stands outside the Divine, not even the shadows we fear. Both light and dark, joy and pain, are contained within the infinite mystery of God. Yet in faith traditions like Christianity and Islam, the devil is understood differently, not as God, but as a creation of God. The devil becomes the symbol of separation , the willful turning away from unity, love, and truth. Where God is perfection and pure goodness, evil arises not from the Source but from distorted will, pride, and rebellion against divine alignment. Beyond the Image of Horns and Fire, The devil is not a creature with horns, a fiery tail, and glowing yellow eyes. It is not merely an external monster lurking in shadows. Instead, it represents the energy of separation, the distortion of truth, the rejection of compassion , the misuse of divine gifts . The devil is rebellion against unity, whether it shows up in i...

You Are Light: The Divine Energy Within You

For centuries, we’ve been conditioned to see God as something external, an all-powerful being separate from us, watching over the world from a distance. But what if that’s not the full picture? What if God isn’t “out there” but within us, woven into the very fabric of our being? The truth is, God is light . And that same light resides within you. The Science of Light and the Divine This isn’t just a spiritual concept,it’s a scientific fact. Light is the foundation of all existence. Everything in the universe, including you, is made up of energy , and at the core of this energy is light. From the cells in your body to the vast galaxies in space , everything is illuminated by this fundamental force. Modern science tells us that light is essential to life. The Sun provides the energy that sustains the Earth, plants convert sunlight into food through photosynthesis, and even human cells emit biophotons tiny flashes of light that regulate our biological functions. If we take this a step f...

True Fellowship: Choosing Souls That Guard Yours

True fellowship is found in those who guard your soul like it’s their own, choosing your eternal growth over temporary gain. In a world that often values transactions over transformation, it’s easy to find ourselves surrounded by people who are more interested in what we can offer than in who we are becoming . We live in an era of fast friendships, performative connections, and surface-level support . But real fellowship, the kind that nourishes your spirit and aligns with your eternal destiny , is deeper than that. It’s about being in community with people who prioritize your spiritual well-being . People who will tell you the truth even when it’s uncomfortable. People who will pray with you, challenge you, and walk with you through the quiet, uncertain places, not for clout, not for control, but because they care about your soul. These are the people who celebrate your growth even when it means you outgrow them. They don’t compete with your calling . They don’t manipulate y...

Change The Conversation

Search This Blog