Expert Asks Journalists To Be Their Brother’s Keeper
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Journalists were attacked 66 times in 2022, which is a significant increase of over 40 cases recorded in 2021
This is contained in a recent report, by the International Press Council, IPC, attributing the record to sudden disappearance of journalists who later somestimes turn out dead or declared missing.
However, this incessant intimidation and manhunting by political office holders and security operatives, can not stop the media from fullfiling its constitutional role of holding the government accountable.
The need for journalists to unite against these intimidation formed part of the discussion at a one-day Training on Safety and Protection of Journalists and Workplace Compliance organized by NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel in collaboration with LightRay Media on Wednesday 30th August 2023 in Abuja.
In her lecture, Ejiro Umukoro of the LightRay Media harped on the need for journalists to be ethically guided stressing that good reportage must meet the basic requirement of newsworthiness.
She urged journalists to jettison brown envelopes as it does not conform with ethical standard which has posed threats to the profession.
The multimedia expert, noted, that the profession is now questionable owing to disunity and appealed to journalists to ensure they protect one another and stage a workout where they perceive harassment.
The Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Correspondents’ Chapel, Jide Oyekunle, on his part, said the training is aimed at enriching the knowledge and skills of journalists.
According to him, one of the major pillars of democracy is a free and vibrant press working as a watchdog and mirror of the society stressing that the media space in the country is becoming more toxic, shrinking, and hostile thereby making it difficult for journalists to operate and carry out their statutory roles.
The NUJ leadership believes the safety of journalists is non negotiable, and urged political leaders to provide conducive atmosphere for her members to exercise their constitutional role this is just as the press continues to witness abuses and denial of freedom of speech despite their role in a democratic society,
