Journalists boycott Bayelsa govt house activities over doctored press releases

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Journalists working in Bayelsa State have placed a total boycott on the press releases and activities of Bayelsa State government house over the disrespectful manners the officials of the government tread journalists in the state.

The Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State council, who passed a resolution during her emergency meeting on Friday, said they cannot continue to rely on press statements by Governor Douye Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah to report activities of the government.

The chapel in a resolution signed by the chairman of the chapel, Mr Christian Eze and Secretary, Bassey Willie, stated that as reporters of the national media, it is unprofessional for the governor’s media team to continue to deny them access to government activities but decide to send doctored press releases after the event.

The chapel said: “That after thorough review of the situation and relationship between the Bayelsa State Government and correspondents of National media, the congress has further resolved to place embargo on all press releases from the office the Chief Press Secretary and indeed Government House activities.

“As representatives of the National media, we can not continue to rely on press statements to report activities of Governor Douye Diri and the Bayelsa State government.”