The Media Support Centre (MSC) has trained election stakeholders including media professionals and members of Civil Society Organizations ahead of the forthcoming general election, to build their capacity towards providing ethical coverage of the election process.
The two-day workshop which held in Lagos sensitized journalists on how to stay safe and avoid partisanship in the coverage of the election.
One of the facilitators, Mr. Mikhail Mumuni, Publisher, the Shield online advised journalists against prejudice in their reportage of the election process.
“We are all political animals, none of us is free from political preference but we must bear in mind that news is different from opinion” Mumuni added
He stressed that journalists should, as a matter of obligation, report the electoral process objectively.
On his part, Mr. Wale Fatade, Africa Editor, The Conversation Africa and co-founder MCS, urged media houses to embrace data journalism to better explain and provide context to news stories.
Fatade explained that the coverage, reportage, and editorial policies of every media house should be informed by data.
The Deputy Superintendent of Corps, PRO, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) Lagos, Oluwaseun Abolurin assured that journalists who will be covering the election will be adequately secured and allowed to carry out their duties within the confine of the law.
Abolurin also called on journalists to see security officials as friends they can relate with, and to report any infraction at any point.
“When journalists see any breach, they should report it, so that it can be resolved and ensure a peaceful electoral process,” he added.
Earlier, Shakirudeen Bankole, Project Manager at MSC said the workshop is part of MSC’s interventions on strengthening the integrity of the country’s electoral process and Democratic governance, through the provision of support to critical stakeholders like the Media, CSOs, and Security, among others.
Other facilitators at the 2-day workshop are Associate Professor, Lagos State University, Dr.Tunde Akanni; Author and Media Trainer, Dr. Yinka Oyebile; Lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr. Tony Okeregbe; Mrs. Joke Kujenya, Director, Female Journalists Initiative; and Director Media Support Centre, Kayode Ogunbunmi.