“It’s even a 2019 rumour; no name, no date. Has journalism gone so low like this?” Journalists retort as reactions trail major newspapers bandwagon effect over old rumour as a fresh report
Controversy has greeted the publication by major newspapers of an over two-year-old rumour that a Nigerian nurse was purportedly sacked and deported by the United Kingdom (UK) over prayer she did for a patient.
Platforms Africa reports that some senior journalists in the country were particularly enraged that the “2019 rumour” could make the pages or websites of key media organisations as fresh news in December 2023 despite its obvious lack of integrity, attribution, and authentication.
The Old Rumour
A Nigerian healthcare worker in the United Kingdom (UK) has been fired and deported after she was reportedly seen praying for a dying elderly patient.
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In a post shared on social media, a popular Nigerian doctor, Olufunmilayo, stated that it was unethical in the UK for nurses to bring religion into their duties.
He said that although it was not customary for nurses to pray for patients, it was expected of them to ask a cleric to perform any religious service on them even if the patient requested that they did so.
Olufunmilayo said he disclosed the incident to warn Nigerian doctors moving to the UK not to pray for patients.
The doctor added: “Praying for your patient is seen as an abuse of trust and misuse of your position. You are expected to simply do and focus on your job.”
Bandwagon
Platforms Africa reports that most of the major newspapers in the country have reported the news word-for-word with some other social media and blogs.
Reactions
Wale Fatade, a senior journalist, who expressed dissatisfaction with the way the rumour turned to a major news item for newspapers, queried; “No further digging, no attempts at finding out if the claim was true or not, no name of the nurse was given, and nothing else. ”
In a Facebook update, which, according to a report by Platforms Africa, has attracted comments from other journalists, Fatade wrote; “Newspapers have been ‘reporting’ that a Nigerian nurse in England was deported because of praying for a patient based on a social media post. No further digging, no attempts at finding out if the claim was true or not, no name of the nurse was given, and nothing else.
“Only one source, if we can call a social media influencer, a source, for this report.
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“Didn’t know we have gone so low like this as journalists. Sigh.”
Another journalist, Olola Seun Akioye , wrote; “You know why the mainstream never bothered to check? Our editors have now made social media the benchmark. If a story gets on social media and we don’t jump on it , query for online editor. So where is the time to fact check. By the way, I have seen that story about two years back on social media. It could be the same or another one.”
Charles Aba added; “Olola Seun Akioye . Totally agree with you. It’s a very old news item. In fact, I have a practitioner who confirmed that it was an old stuff.”
According to Okwy Onyia; “This (is an) anomaly. I was annoyed reading it in some national newspapers. And I asked myself: “have we fallen this low?”
Emeka Madunagu added; “Na wa ooo. You echoed my thoughts. A simple email to the UK nursing council would have been fine. But these days, anyone can be quoted in our media.”
Bamidele Johnson, another senior journalist, said; “Try get ‘Trust Me, I’m Lying’ by Ryan Holliday. He argues that truth is of little importance in the page view-centric era. If truth can be dispensed with, depth is unsafe. Sad.”
Another journalist, Friday Olokor, however, took a detour. He wrote; ” Everybody wants traffic. Egbon Wale Fatade, I’m coming from there and won’t join in this criticism. It’s too early for me. Na social media frenzy, if you wait for investigation, the story will become stale.”
