2019 Elections: EU/IPC equips journalists with election process
The need for ethical revolution in the journalism profession has been stressed by media experts. A media professional and member, Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspapers Mr. Martins Oloja made this call during a two-day capacity building workshop organised for political correspondents by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria through the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos Nigeria held in Kano state.
The workshop which drew about forty participants from various Media organizations in the northeast, north-central and north-west respectively was aimed at equipping Journalists with knowledge and skills on best practices and Professional reporting of electoral processes.
Mr. Oloja who presented a titled ” Legal and Regulatory frameworks for reporting elections: The pitfalls to avoid explained that, the 2019 elections is going to be a unique one, while he advised the Journalists to advance from news writing to Contextual reporting.
The Veteran also enjoined Journalists to adhere to the ethics of the Pen Profession, and ensure self discipline, which according to him integrity is the most valuable attribute that no one should leave his/her home without it.
Director, International Society of Media Mrs. Moji Makanjuola,MFR,who presented a Paper titled ” Factoring development, Social and human interest issues into election reporting in nigeria, appealed to the Journalists to always be gender balance in their reportage by promoting Women in Politics.
Also speaking, Prof. Umar Pate of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano presented two papers on Conflict Sensitivity and avoiding hate speech as major imperatives in reporting 2019 elections, while the other one was on Post-elections: paying attention to the issues of democratic accountability.
Pate urged the Journalists to desist from allowing themselves to be used by desperate Politicians and adhere to the principles of conflict sensitivity reporting among others.
Some of the participants in an interview described the workshop as timely and very useful, especially as the 2019 elections is around the corner and commend organisation.
The workshop which held in Kano last weekend cautioned media men to be conversant with the guiding Laws on elections reports.
