ENHANCING MEDIA INDEPENDENCE IN NIGERIA
Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, mandates the media to hold the government accountable to the people. Independent media is crucial for upholding democracy, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives are represented, and preventing misinformation that could distort public perception. However, in executing their constitutional mandate, journalists are often harassed, assaulted, and detained. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt a multi-stakeholder approach to guarantee press freedom, media credibility, and adherence to professional ethics.
PRIMORG, in collaboration with the International Press Institute (IPI)
In 2023, PRIMORG, in collaboration with the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, organized a series of two-day media convergence and capacity-building workshops across three states in Nigeria. Funded by the Foundation, these workshops aimed to train journalists on media law, ethics, and fact-checking/verification to enhance their journalistic practices and mitigate legal risks.
The theme of the media convergence was: “How to Avoid Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Suits and Remain Ethical.” The workshops collectively attracted over 100 participants, providing them with practical insights to navigate legal challenges and enhance their adherence to ethical journalism practices.”
TRAINING FACILITATORS
To enhance the professional development and international exposure of journalists, in 2022, PRIMORG was funded by the MacArthur Foundation to facilitate the attendance of a conference in London, UK. Seven MacArthur grantees under the Media and Journalism Cohort were sponsored to attend the two-day Trust Conference organized by the Thomson Reuters Foundation at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London. The theme of the meeting was Strengthening Free, Fair and Informed Societies.
The two-day conference was focused on tackling societal issues on media freedom, socio-economic inclusion, climate change and digital rights during different panel discussions.
A reminder to invest in technology ...
Conversations during the conference re-emphasized the importance of the media and media freedom as the backbone of upholding democracy, and they should never be repressed.
Participants at the conference were reminded that to adapt, survive and thrive. The newsroom must be able to invest in technology and be able to innovate.
The two-day conference provided an opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration among participants during the networking session.
