The International Press Institute Nigeria, IPI, has organized a two-day training workshop for Senior Journalists in Kano, North West Nigeria.
The training workshop is in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation. to enlighten the participants “how to avoid slapp suits and remain ethical”.
IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed, who explained to the participants the reasons for the training workshop said, “it is to help the media on the promotion of accountability and good governance in the country”.
He noted that many Journalists have been arrested for doing their jobs while a number of many media houses have been suffocated leading to frozening of their accounts. He said this during training in Kano organised to equip senior journalists with the skills needed to avoid obnoxious laws targeted at the media.
According to him, IPI had already organized similar training workshops in Abuja, Lagos and now in Kano.
Mojeed said section 22 of the Constitution allows “the press, radio, television and other agencies of mass media to all times be free to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.”
IPI, established in 1950, is a global network of media executives, editors and leading journalists, committed to freedom of press and media rights. The Nigerian Chapter reserves the right and intends to uphold the tenents and objectives of this institution in defending press freedom in Nigeria.
The Central theme of the event dwelt upon by the speakers at the workshop was media ethics bothering on its application in their duties as information managers, especially the Editors and Reporters.
Among the speakers on Wednesday are, Executive Director, IPI Global, Frane Maroevic, who spoke virtually; Director, MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima and IPI Nigeria Board Chair, Kabiru A. Yusuf.
Four papers were presented, they include, “Over view of Nigeria media law – from the beginning to the present” by Tobi Soniyi; “Legal Loopholes Editors must avoid – most dangerous laws to pay attention to” by Gbemiga Ogunleye; “Operational loopholes that can trigger media repression/lawsuits by Musikilu Mojeed and ” Understanding media codes and ethics by Prof. Mainasara Kurfi.
He said many Nigerian journalists are harassed, assaulted, arrested, detained and sometimes killed for upholding the people’s right to know.
IPI Nigeria Board Chairman and Media Trust Group Chairman, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, who addressed the meeting virtually said media practitioners are facing difficulties just like many other Nigerians, adding that the solution to the economic crisis lies in the traditional role of the media holding government to account.
“It is difficult to be ethical when things are difficult, when people try to make ends meet, but in the long term, as media practitioners, we must always do what is right,” he said.
The iPI global director, Mr Frane Maroevic, in a message to the participants at the training, said the institute would continue to encourage ethical journalism in the digital age when information travels faster to connect society and amplify values.
Director of MacArthur foundation Dr Kole Shettima said what the IPI is doing is very critical for the country and its democracy, adding that his foundation would continue to support independent media without which, he noted, even businesses would find it difficult to survive.
Senior journalists from the northwest region and media scholars attended the training.
