Journalists have been charged on conflict-sensitive and unbiased reporting as voters prepare to exercise their franchise at the Edo Gubernatorial elections on September 20, 2024.
The charge was made by media and civil society experts at a webinar themed: Conflict-Sensitive Reporting and Elections: Best Practices and Ethical Considerations, which was organized by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) under its EU-SDGN programme.
Mr Achike Chude, the National Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and a prominent election observer while delivering his presentation charged the journalists to report in good manner and avoid the infusion of their personal biases in their reportage.
Mr Chude also warned the journalists against being induced to report the elections, adding that “elections are very important. It determines the future and the direction of the nation and citizens, it determines the welfare, level of security of citizens and level of accountability of the political leadership of the country before the citizens.”
According to Chude, “if we get our elections right, it will translate into positive lives for the citizens. As such it is important for the media to play its role adequately by provide fair and accurate coverage of the election.”
He also mentioned that journalists should not “embellish report, interpret what you have seen and don’t add additional meanings.”
In her presentation, Mrs Joke Kujenya, Executive-in-Charge, Media Mentors Leadership Academy who spoke on the need for journalists to continually update their knowledge on conflict-sensitive reporting said “disabuse your mind from what you already know and learn the emerging trends.”
She noted that the Edo election should be approached with a sense of responsibility and charged the journalists not to cause a trigger for conflict in the region.
“Use your reportage to reduce the risk of violence escalation. Ensure balance and fair reportage. And help to promote peaceful discourse,” she added.
Earlier, the Executive Director of CAPPA, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi who was represented by CAPPA’s Senior Programme Manager Abayomi Sarumi, said the webinar was organized to discuss issues to shape the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states, with an understanding of the important role that the media plays in the outcome of an election.
“The webinar today will discuss the ethics and consideration that should be learnt by journalists to help the people of Edo state make informed decision and ensure the reportage of elections is unbiased,” he added.
Sarumi noted that CAPPA through the EU-SDGN programme has had “series of engagements with journalists across the country covering different topics to make the democratic process becomes robust and allow for sustainable transition across states and the national level.