DESIRE LORDSON
Journalists have been called upon to take steps to ensure that the information given to the public is accurate.
This was the submission at a two – Day training by the International Press Centre in collaboration with European Union in Port Harcourt on combating information disorder in democratic governance reporting, using fact – checking and freedom of information ( F.O.I.) tools.
Director, International Press Centre, Dr. Lanre Arogbolade, while calling on Journalist to ensure that their News Reports thoroughly address issues that would benefit the people, stressed that facts should not be taken for granted in professional News Reporting.
He said Journalist should package reports that would hold politically elected leaders accountable to the people and report in the public interest, particularly when it comes to promises made by elected politicians.
Another resource person, Director Media Rights Agender, Lagos, Dr. Edetaen Ojo, urged the government to cooperate with the Media, by giving out necessary information to the masses.
He pointed that with speculations dominating some media space, Journalists should be deliberate in using the right fact finding tools for accurate News reporting.
On her part, a broadcast lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Titilayo Osuagwu, wants gender biases to be dealt with in News reporting.
Dr. Osuagwu called for the collaboration of both gender for the society to move forward, adding that women should also support each other in achieving advancement.
Two participants at the workshop, Mrs. Precious Akutamadu of the News Agency of Nigeria and Mr. Uche Ndeke of Radio Nigeria, expressed preparedness to be more detailed in fact finding in their News reports.
The two day intensive workshop, had Journalists across the South South and South East regions of the Country.
