Guber Poll: Group Advocates Retraining of Journalists on Ethical, Professional Reportage

By Praise Chinecherem

International Press Centre, IPC has underscored the need to retrain journalists on ethical, and professional reportage ahead of November 8 governorship election in Anambra state.

Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade made the call in Awka during a two-day forum on “Enhanced Reportage, Inclusivity, and Accountability of Stakeholders towards Anambra Poll.

The event, held for reporters, news editors and heads of media organisations was to deepen civic and voter participation with funding by the European Union under Component 4: Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria-Phase 2 (EU-SDGN II).

Addressing participants, Arogundade
described election as bedrock of a democratic society, stressing that retraining journalists would enhance accountability and participatory democracy.

“Retraining journalists on ethical and professional reportage of election will enhance accountability and participatory democracy,” he said.

Arogundade drilled the participants on codes of election coverage and enjoined journalists to abide by the professional and social responsibilities guiding their practice.

Executive Director, Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, Dr. Akin Akingbulu noted that the event was aimed at guiding the journalists to renew a conversation between the candidates and votersm

“This engagement is targeted at renewing conversations between those who seek to govern and those who elect the leaders by upholding media freedom, amplifying voices and deepening electoral integrity so as to secure peace over polarization,” he said.

Speaking on “Embedding Ethics professionalism Inclusion and Issue-Focused Reporting Before and After the Anambra Election”, a resource person, Dr. Njide Ezeonyejiaku harped on the importance of ethical journalism and professional conduct in the election reportage.

Ezeonyejiaku of the Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University described inclusion and issue based reports as hallmark of ethical and professional reporter.

She called on journalists to report according to the ethos of journalism for the best interest of citizens.