Hardcore Online Newspaper unveiled as ADMCA tackles Cyber Bullying, Stalking

By Praise Chinecherem

A new Online Newspaper, Hardcore News has been unveiled in Awka Anambra State in response to call for responsible and ethical digital media practice.

The event organized by the Association of Digital Media Core Advocates (ADMCA) featured presentation of certificates to participants including media professionals, social media influencers, bloggers and other online users.

Speaking during the lunch, National President of the Association, Dr Chuma Harris Odili said the aim was to drive the online publication towards achieving set goals in the media industry.

He said, “Apart from the fact that we will be dwelling on an emerging but vert disturbing aspects of digital media practice, called cyber aggression,we will be unveiling our response to responsible and ethical digital media practice, which is an online newspaper called, Hardcore News.

“Hardcore News is our answer to all the issues we will be raising as regards this growing trend called cyber aggression,and you will confirm this when you check out the portal at www.hardcorenewsng.com”

While calling for expungement from the penal code enacted laws especially the one bordering on criminal defamation, Odili said the call was expedient to ensure affluent and powerful class did not take advantage of the laws to silence opposing views in the society.

“As unhealthy as this may appear, ADMCA will always urge balance when digital media practitioners want to share whatever story they have online,” he added.

A university don, Dr. Chukwuma Onunkwo in his paper presentation, listed negative effects of cyberbullying and stalking to include mental health challenges, increased stress and anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

He stressed need for government and all relevant stakeholders to jointly embark on social reorientation of the public and enactment of further laws to safeguard and regulate the activities of media professionals.

Delivering a lecture on Cyber Bullying and Stalking, Dr Chukwuma Onukwo, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, highlighted negative effects of cyber bullying to include increased stress, depression, low esteem and long lasting emotional effect.

He urged stakeholders in the media industry to act professionally and mobilize effectively to control the effects.

Also speaking, Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Southeast Zone, Comrade Emma Ifesinachi said no fewer than 189 journalists were arrested across the country between 2015 to 2023.

He called on government to accord to media practitioners the necessary respect and dignity they deserved, just as he announced plans by the Union to organize a media conference in the Southeast in April.