By Eberechi Obinagwam
Ahead of the 2023 election, International Press Center (IPC) has tasked journalists on the need for credible reporting.
Executive Director of IPC, Comrade Lanre Arogundade made this known while speaking to Labour Writers Association of Nigeria during a sensitisation workshop on the role of Media in 2023 General Election organised by Fredrich Elbert Stiftung Foundation. He said journalists should use investigative methods and instruments to ensure factual and accurate reporting of electoral processes.
According to him, not getting it right as a journalist in reporting could hinder the effective performance of the four core roles of the media in election which are, the civic and voters education role, the public educator role, the campaign platform/open forum role, and the conflict management role.
He explained that citizens consume and interpret media information to make informed decisions and judgements hence the need of credibility in reporting especially at the ongoing political campaigns ahead of the general election come 2023.
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“Actions or inactions of media professionals, reporters, photographers, Cameramen, producers, presenters, editors etc can also impact positively or negatively on the credibility and fairness of the electoral situation under which the people exercise the right to choose,” he said.
He added that the media cannot be separated from the political history of Nigeria, “Some of the nationalists that fought for independence were journalists, like, Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Obafemi Awolowo,”
Arogundade, however, urged labour writers to help the media to get it right by raising awareness on why workers should refrain from serving as foot soldiers of political party militias or as party thugs.
“They should contribute to democratic accountability by documenting labour and workers related campaign promises so that after election they can follow up and let workers know them because most times, they make promises and forget. But, it’s documented we can hold them accountable.”
Also, former labour editor, Vanguard Media Limited, Funmi Komolaye, in her part towards the 2023 election said the media alone is not in a position to ensure a peaceful, credible, transparent and inclusive election, ” the media needs to work with credible civil society organisation and I emphasis credible because politicians have corrupted many of the civil society groups. What do I mean, members of some of these civil society groups ask politicians for money for what they term “election expenses” where the party or governor fails to meet their demands, they write and release unfavourable reports about the candidates of that party,”
She stated that journalists covering an election must create time to familiarise himself or herself with the constitution of political parties, especially, the major parties.
She said for Nigeria to get it right, we have to go back to our root, the parliamentary system. “Nigeria should also put an end to political prostitution.”