Journalists have been charged to balance the huge influence it wields in the society with a profound sense of responsibility in their reportage, especially in the specialised areas of crime and court reporting.
The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigeria union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Nsibiet John, gave the charge at a symposium on “Effective Crime and Court Reporting; the Role of the Media in the Administration of Justice’’, held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Welcoming participants to the event, Comrade Nsibiet John stressed that the gathering was not merely another professional engagement on the calendar of the NUJ, but rather a deliberate investment in knowledge, professional competence and the integrity of journalism, particularly in an area as sensitive and consequential as crime and court reportage.
He maintained that crime/court reportage required not just speed but accuracy, balance, context, restraint, fairness and a sound understanding of the administration of justice.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Christopher Ekong, noted that the principles that Journalists must have in reporting crime include accuracy in names, location, case numbers, statements attributed to Lawyers, police claims and appropriate terminologies.
Speaking on “Balancing the desire for Breaking News and Factual and Fair Reports; Protecting Victims, Witnesses and Vulnerable Persons”, Mr. Cletus Ukpong of Premium Times Newspaper, maintained that a wrong story does not end when deleted as false allegations can enter search engines and social media permanently.
Also, Retired Justice Ifiok Ukana spoke extensively on “Writing Effective Court Report and how to Navigate the Complexities of Contempt and Defamation”, while the Director of Public Prosecution Mr. Friday Itim dealt with the topic “Courtroom Etiquette, Judicial Communication, Understanding Legal Decisions and how to avoid Misrepresentations.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah and the state Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare, reminded Journalists of the need to be accurate, fair and responsible in the discharge of their all important duties as members of the fourth estate of the realm.
