By Oluwatobiloba Adeosun
A prominent On-Air Personality (OAP) at Olabisi Onabanjo University’s radio station, Mr. Henry Jackson, has voiced his stance on the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of using hidden cameras and undercover tools in investigative journalism, during the Association of Students' Communicators (ASCOM) inter-level debate.
While speaking with Campus Mirror, during the Association of Student Communicators (ASCOM) inter-level debate held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the LLTNF auditorium, Mr. Jackson emphasized the evolving nature of the media landscape and the balance between privacy and public interest.
“The media profession has grown over time, and technology has made it easier. Media professionals are now looking for the best ways to do their job without being caught,” he said.
“Investigative journalism comes in when something is done wrong. If you want to uncover something bad, you use whatever tools you can within the boundaries of the law. If what I am doing affects public peace and interest, it overshadows individual privacy.”
The debate topic: “Is the Use of Hidden Cameras and Undercover Instruments Ethical in Investigative Journalism?” sparked engaging discourse among student journalists across all academic levels.
The supporting team featured Bankole Oluwatobiloba (100 level), Otuyelu Martins (100 level), Fadairo Daniel Akorede (100 level), Ademuyiwa Osuolale (400 level), and Lydia Adetunla (400 level). On the opposing side were Babalola Odunayo (300 level), Odebo Gbemileke (300 level), Oyebade Tabitha Oluwatofunmi (200 level), and Igenuma Prudent Eshioyasemhe (200 level). Momodu Jeremiah Ayomide (200 level) also joined the debate, presenting strong arguments that captured the attention of the audience.
Departmental President, David Oribowale, popularly known as Phoenix, shed light on the rationale behind the event. “We are media personnel. We want to ensure that the cub reporters we are training are versatile in many areas, including speech and critical thinking. This debate was aimed at giving them a platform to express themselves and understand complex ethical issues in journalism.”
At the end of the debate, Mr. Jackson, who served as the judge, selected three outstanding debaters to represent the department in an upcoming inter-institutional debate: Babalola Odunayo (300 level), Odebo Gbemileke (300 level), and Momodu Jeremiah Ayomide (200 level).
Odebo Gbemileke praised the ASCOM executives for their initiative. “This event is a good one. We’ve been seeing lots of social events like pool parties and night hangouts. It’s thoughtful to now have intellectual and educational programs. I commend the executives,” he said.
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