By Ene Asuquo
With about one hundred days to the 2023 general elections, Journalists and Civil Society groups in South-South have joined the call for credible polls in the country.
This position was advanced last week, at the end of a two-day capacity building workshop organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development in collaboration with Independent National Electoral Commission and Nigeria Union of Journalist in Port Harcourt.
The workshop centered on conflict sensitive reporting, 2023 elections and countering fake news and drew resource persons from relevant organizations and agencies.
In his presentation, the National president of the Nigeria Union of journalists Mr Chris Isiguzo urged journalists to try as much as they can to avoid hate journalism and fake news as these can destroy the society
He said in what ever they do as journalists, it is very necessary they take the issue of peace into consideration and the need to be careful so that areas that are already fragile do not explode
He stressed that journalists should develop a thorough understanding of conflicts and convey same to the citizens in a way that they will reflect the truth in all their complexities
The NUJ president called on the media practitioners to brace up for the challenges ahead, since they are expected to participate in the process of social reconstruction and democratisation by providing a positive and participatory forum for the exchange of ideas, while discharging their duties as journalists, and should not deviate from the ethics of the profession
In her remarks, the Director, center for Democracy and Development Idayat Hassan urged journalists to be sensitive of the environment in their reportage and engagement with Nigerians.
“We all know what the country is passing through in terms of conflicts, we are calling on journalists to ensure that as they do their work, they should be sensitive of the place so that they don’t add layers of conflicts in the already tensed environment”.
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