Media experts have urged journalists to focus on capacity building and career development in order to enhance professional journalism.
This was the stand of Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director International Press Centre, who spoke during a webinar organised by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Media Rights Agenda themed Role of the Media in Good Governance in Nigeria.
Mr Arogundade called on the media to strengthen its capacity in order to be able to promote and ensure good governance.
He listed available laws that enable this including the Electoral Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
The president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, called for continuous training, especially when journalists are moved from one beat to another.
Mr Chris also called for the enactment of necessary legislation that will enhance media practice.
Ann Iyonu, the Executive Director of Good Jonathan Foundation said there is need for capacity building, training upon training of journalists especially in the relevance of new communication tools such as social media and technology.
Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Office if the Vice President, called for the development of a national consensus which will stipulate the minimum wage for reporters.
He also called for a discussion on addressing and enforcing ethical behaviours.
He added that “the media needs to be sound professionally, it must have people who are knowledgeable about the bit which they are covering.”
The Publisher of BO News Service, Blessing Oladunjoye said that when the media is not seen as a tool to push personal agendas and interests, it would be able to effectively play its role of attaining good governance in the country.
She added that “At the moment, the government largely feels that the media can be bought or threatened to compromise on its duties and professional standards.
Ms Oladunjoye noted that for the media to contribute effectively in enthroning good governance, it must as a matter of responsibility apply the basic principles of accountability, transparency, accuracy, fairness, balance and objectivity in the discharge of their duties.
She called on the Nigerian government and the media need to adopt the widely acclaimed global international relations principle which says that nations have no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.