At a centenary event for the Daily Times Newspaper on Thursday, a former chief of staff to ex-Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom urged a new generation of news outlets to study the century-old paper’s emphasis on consistency and credibility.
Honourable Terwase Orbunde, speaking at the celebration themed “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future,” said the newspaper’s survival through 100 years of political and media change highlights the value of steady, truthful reporting.
“Daily Times is a household name. For the past 100 years, they have covered space in this country and performed so well,” Orbunde said.
He recalled seeing his parents read the Daily Times before many of today’s national titles emerged.
Orbunde encouraged emerging media houses to adopt the principles that, in his view, have sustained the paper: consistent journalism, adherence to verifiable facts and restraint from sensationalism crafted merely to boost sales or online traffic.
“There is something about consistency. There is something about reporting real-time truth, not falsehood,” he said.
“There is something about not being sensational because you want people to buy your newspapers.”
Credibility, Orbunde added, is an organization’s most durable asset and requires years of disciplined reporting to cultivate.
He suggested that the Daily Times’ longevity itself is evidence of the trust it has built with readers.
“If they had credibility issues, this newspaper would have collapsed,” he said, urging younger outlets to build professional standards, institutional structures and a commitment to responsible journalism.
