By Angela ​‌‍‌​‌‍⁠⁠‍‍‌‍​‍‍​​‌​Atabo

Former Presidential Spokesman, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, has urged media relations practitioners to uphold truth, transparency and professionalism in their engagement with journalists to strengthen public confidence in the media and institutions.

Adeniyi, Chairman of THISDAY Editorial Board, gave the advice while speaking as a guest speaker at a media parley organised by Julius Berger on Friday in Abuja.

He said that although journalists and media relations practitioners had different professional responsibilities, both professions shared the obligation of ensuring that the public received accurate, credible and reliable information.

He said while media relations practitioners owed loyalty to the organisations they represented, journalists remained accountable to their readers, listeners and viewers.

He said the relationship between the two professions should be built on mutual respect, credibility and commitment to truth rather than personal friendship or transactional interests.

“The line between managing an image and managing the truth is thin, and it crawls in small steps, not large ones,” Adeniyi said.

Reflecting on his experience as a presidential spokesman, he said managing sensitive information required honesty, professional judgement and the ability to recognise the limits of what could be disclosed.

“I was spokesman to a man who did not like to talk about his health. There were questions I could not answer, but I learned that a spokesman always has a choice,” he said.

Adeniyi explained that spokespersons should avoid making statements they could not substantiate, particularly when dealing with sensitive issues or decisions they could not defend.

“When there were things I couldn’t disclose, or decisions I couldn’t defend, I simply kept quiet. Silence is sometimes the only honest option available to a media relations practitioner,” he said.

He stressed that withholding information when necessary was preferable to misleading journalists, adding that dishonesty could permanently damage professional relationships.

“A lie never is. Journalists will forgive you for saying, ‘I cannot comment on that’. They will not forgive you, and they should not, for telling them what you know to be false,” Adeniyi said.

The former presidential spokesman also urged organisational leaders to involve communications officers in high-level decision-making processes to enable them to provide accurate and timely information to journalists.

He explained that spokespersons excluded from important meetings and policy discussions would find it difficult to respond effectively to media enquiries, particularly when organisations faced sensitive issues.

Adeniyi identified increasing dependence on public relations materials, declining public trust and the growing use of artificial intelligence as factors reshaping the relationship between journalists and media relations practitioners.

He noted that the growing workload in newsrooms had made journalists increasingly dependent on information provided by communications professionals, stressing that such materials must be accurate and verifiable.

He advised media relations practitioners against using police petitions to intimidate journalists over critical reports, urging them instead to respond through factual rejoinders and appropriate professional channels.

He also encouraged communications officers to remain accessible to journalists during crises, noting that timely engagement and credible information were essential to managing public concerns.

Adeniyi further cautioned organisations against using advertising budgets to influence editorial decisions, stressing the need to respect the independence and professional responsibilities of journalists.

He advised journalists to uphold professional standards by verifying information before publication, correcting errors promptly and maintaining editorial independence.

He also called for stronger collaboration between newsrooms and corporate communications offices ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in addressing misinformation, fabricated documents and manipulated audio and video materials.

Earlier, Dr Ismaila Amodu, Regional Manager, Administration, Julius Berger, commended journalists for their constructive reporting and contributions to the development of the construction industry.

Amodu said the company had recorded significant activities in 2026, including contract execution and project commissioning, expressing optimism about sustaining its cordial relationship with the media in 2027.

He urged journalists to maintain constructive engagement with stakeholders, including political leaders, to promote accountability, encourage responsible leadership and support positive developments in the country.

Also, Mr Osedebamen Isibor, Manager, Media Relations, Julius Berger, appreciated journalists for their professionalism, accessibility and support throughout 2026.

Isibor said the media had played an important role in communicating the company’s infrastructure projects, innovations, community interventions and contributions to national development.

He described the company’s engagement with journalists as constructive, reaffirming Julius Berger’s commitment to transparency, accessibility and responsiveness in its media relations activities.

Isibor solicited continued professional scrutiny and constructive engagement from journalists, describing trust as a fundamental element of the company’s relationship with the media.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deji Abdulwahab