Nigeria, June 8 -- In Nigeria, journalism remains one of the most misunderstood professions. It is a profession that is celebrated when it serves the interests of the powerful and condemned when it challenges them. Journalists are applauded when their reports align with the expectations of politicians, business leaders, religious figures, ethnic champions, and ordinary citizens. Yet, the same journalists are vilified the moment they publish facts that make these same individuals uncomfortable.

For the sake of clarity, journalistic truth is the ethical principle that guides journalists in the pursuit and reporting of accurate, reliable, and credible information. It requires journalists to present facts as accurately as possible, free fro...