The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, has reaffirmed its commitment to sanitizing the Nigerian online media landscape, declaring zero tolerance for fake news and unethical journalism.
In her welcome address at the Guild’s Book Launch and Fundraiser for its Media Centre on Tuesday in Abuja, the GOCOP President, Maureen Chigbo, emphasized, that the Guild, founded in 2013 and rebranded in 2014 after facing resistance from non-professional groups within the digital space, is a peer-reviewed group of 120 professional journalists-turned-mediapreneurs and united by a shared vision to promote ethical standards and resist the spread of misinformation online.
She disclosed that the Guild has introduced a robust self-regulatory framework to rid the profession of impostors and to protect the integrity of online journalism.
“Our members subscribe to the ethics of the journalism profession, which upholds facts, truth, fairness and balanced reporting as sacred,” she stated.
According to Chigbo, the Guild’s leadership is using the occasion of the book presentation to call on stakeholders, government agencies, Civil Society Organisations, advertisers, and media collaborators to support its efforts through investments, tax breaks, and grants.
“Online publication is the future of the media industry, which the government and lawmakers have to support through enabling laws,” she said.
She explained that the publication, Nigeria Media Renaissance, which is being presented, is a product of teamwork and divine inspiration and features contributions from GOCOP members, keynote addresses from renowned public figures, and a foreword by Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times, who has been congratulated for being one of the recipients of the National Honours announced recently by President Bola Tinubu.
According to her, the book reflects the Guild’s journey, ideals, and fight for professionalism in the increasingly influential online media space.
Chigbo paid tribute to the two late founding members of GOCOP, Chijama Ogbu and Ben Bright Mkpuma, and thanked longstanding institutional supporters, including the NNPCL, NLNG, FIRS, CBN and major media development organisations.
She also used the platform to appeal to public relations practitioners and advertisers to direct investments to credible platforms that uphold journalistic integrity, noting that “small and profitable businesses are the engine of growth of any economy.”
She concluded her address by urging all the stakeholders to see online media not as a threat, but as a vital partner in building a just, informed and peaceful society.
“When you support us to run profitable businesses, you also strengthen us to serve you better as thoroughbred professionals,” she said.
With this event, GOCOP has not only presented a vision for the future of online journalism in Nigeria, but also laid a foundation for institutional growth and professional integrity in the digital age.
Speaking on the Book: Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspectives on Online Publishing, Chigbo said that it marked a milestone in the Guild’s advocacy for media reform.
She added that the book offers insights into the evolution of online journalism in Nigeria, challenges faced by practitioners, and the values GOCOP stand for and features contributions from GOCOP members and past keynote speakers, including Bishop Matthew Kukah, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Prof. Uchenna Uwaleke, and others. The foreword was written by Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times, who was recently honoured by President Bola Tinubu.
The rapid expansion of Nigeria’s online media ecosystem has created both opportunities and challenges. While digital platforms have democratized access to information and created a space for entrepreneurial journalism, they have also become breeding grounds for misinformation, disinformation and poorly regulated content. This has triggered concerns among media stakeholders and the general public about the credibility and reliability of news sources in the country.
In response, GOCOP emerged as a self-regulatory initiative formed by seasoned journalists, who previously worked in mainstream print and broadcast organizations. Their mission was to bring professionalism and ethical accountability into the fast-growing online publishing space, which was increasingly being mischaracterized and dominated by non-professionals.
Since its formation, GOCOP has championed efforts to curb fake news and has become a credible voice advocating for policy reforms, capacity building, and public-private sector partnerships in the media industry.
The Guild also functions as a pressure group pushing for recognition and support of legitimate online media organizations, especially in areas of regulation, advertisement access and institutional support.
“To strengthen its regulatory role, GOCOP has put in place several internal structures, including disciplinary, welfare, finance, and membership screening committees.”
According to Chigbo, the Disciplinary Committee/Ombudsman also allows the public to seek redress in cases of unprofessional conduct by Guild members.
