'Social media threat to conventional journalism'

He was declaring open a one week training workshop on "Entrepreneurial Journalism, Next Frontier" organised by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and Voice of America(V.O.A) in conjunction with the Kaduna State University held at the weekend.

According to him, the social media has turned thousands of young Nigerians into journalists without formal training. He said if not checked the kind of information disseminated through such media such as Facebook could cause havoc in the country.

"The social media threatens core journalism in this country because it has suddenly converted many young men and women without formal training into journalists. They just pick up information from the streets without editing and post on the net.

"In some cases such information cause havoc as the case might have been in the past", he said.

He said students of the university were very much ready to benefit from the trainers.

Professor Qurix added that the partnership between the university and Washington would go a long way in strengthening relations between the two parties, saying it would also benefit students undergoing journalism training in the university.

Earlier in her remarks, the director, training and development office, Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Joan Mower, said they were happy to establish a solid partnership with the university.

According to her, the US Embassy in Nigeria is the sponsor of the training program for journalists from radio stations and students studying journalism in the university.