1. JOURNALISM AND THE CHURCH
By Tunde Saduwa
The Pen profession has indeed come a long way. It has often been said that the pen is mightier than the
sword. In present day time, we can liken a sword to a gun. Without losing the essence of the idiomatic
expression, one could infer that, “the efficacy of a gun is incomparable to that of a pen”. More so, when
pursuing a lofty, egalitarian cause devoid of parochial interest for vast majority of people, association
and nation. Now, come to think of it, if this statement is anything to go by. A greater, purposeful and
impactful revolution can be ignited and accomplished via the instrumentation of a pen. Hence, I would
say – don’t underestimate the power of the Pen!
If at this juncture, you are still wondering what a Pen profession is; while I am about to unveil the so
called gentlemen and ladies who wield this uncommon tool. Your guess should be in sync with mine –
Writers and Journalists of course! Journalists are trained professionals in the act of news gathering,
reporting and writing for prints and electronic media, such as: newspapers, magazines, television and
radio stations; the new-media (internet enabled) and other medium of information dissemination. At
the heart of journalism as a practice is the quest to get the populace informed of happenings within and
around a geographical entity or space.
Just as with a few other professions/disciplines. Journalism per excellence searches and investigates to
reveal the truth via its different arms especially that with predisposition towards the gospel; which
cannot be said not to have its fundamental tenet from the Holy Bible. The scripture says in the book of
Isaiah 52:7, “…how beautiful upon the mountain is the feet of him that brings good tidings, that
publishes peace …that says unto Zion, thy God reigneth”. In the same vein, it won’t be out of place to
say that a journalist requisite function is to seek and publish the truth; while the scripture makes us to
understand that, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 3:16).
In this era of scientific revolution, information explosion and a multimedia global village; in which the
society is being constantly harassed and debased of its ethical and moral uprightness, thereby leaving
the Church to cater for the herculean task of character moulding. Social responsibility theory of the
press, advocates a free but responsible press; which held that the Press has the right to criticize
government and institutions, but also has certain basic obligations to maintain the stability of the
society. In which the Church is a unique segment of. More so, with the understanding of the ability of
the media not only to inform, but also to influence as to what is important and paramount to keep
abreast of; thus creating an agenda for our collective thoughts and actions.
To comrades in the Pen profession, we should appreciate the fact that we live in a fast pace, changing
society that requires the tools of our daily engagement to be constantly overhauled, upgraded and
sharpened incessantly as fore-bearers of good tidings and publishers of the impeccable truth. Taking
into cognizance the functional use of the media and the gratification thereof, from the perspective of
the audience in the form of:

2.  Entertainment/ infotainment
 Social interaction & engagement
 Transmission of values & ethics
These bulleted points amongst others explain the gratification accruing to a typical audience/reader of a
broadcast or published work, in other words look forward to anytime they come across such. They want
to be entertained and informed of happenings around, which are significant to form discourse on - this
promotes communal interaction. By extension, the media helps to promote ethical values, communal
values and apparently, Christ-like values amongst Christians. Therefore, it should not be a surprise after
all that the evolution of the Print media, hitherto Journalism in Nigeria cannot be chronicled without
stating the pioneering efforts of Rev. Henry Townsend, an Anglican missionary. Who in 1846 established
the second printing press in Nigeria, at the mission house in ‘Ake-Abeokuta’; and later in 1859 came up
with the first Nigerian newspaper, entitled; “Iwe Irohin”. The newspaper which was a Yoruba fortnight
journal became bilingual when an English language supplement was added in the opposite columns in
1860. Its main objectives were propagating Christianity and promotion of mass literacy.
The media (print, electronic and new-media) are indeed imperative tools for moulding and re-shaping
opinions and lives as the journalism world deem fit. Hence, considering the enormous task expected of a
Journalist; he or she is in no doubt adequately equipped with the tool to change and rewrite the course
of history. This the Christian community can utilize for the unification of the 21st Century Church and
proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord.
Published in the VINEYARD CHRISTIAN magazine, Issue 2, 2010