February 25, (THEWILL) – The Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, has disclosed that journalists can be catalysts for good governance and also make a difference in people’s lives.
The Executive Director disclosed this in Port Harcourt during a two-day capacity building on combating information disorder in Democratic governance reporting using fact-checking and Freedom of Information tools.
In his words, “We have seen societies including Nigeria itself where through consistent reporting and follow-up, journalists have been able to make a difference in the lives of the people.
“This is through getting the government to do what they are supposed to do, build roads in communities and health centres”, he said.
He said by fostering a culture of critical thinking, fact-checking, and media literacy, journalists will be empowered to serve as guardians of truth, champions of integrity, and defenders of democracy.
He expressed hope that at the end of the two-day capacity-building program, a network of journalists who shall be identified as the IPC/EUSDGN fellows of fact-checking, investigative and FOI journalism will emerge.
Also speaking on the FOI Act, Edetaen Ojo, the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda said the whole essence of the FOI Act is to enable citizens including journalists to get information from public institutions and officials but more importantly to get reliable information.
He disclosed that journalists have not made significant use of the FOI Act and part of the objective of the workshop is to create greater awareness and sensitise journalists about the existence of the law, and its value to them and also build capacity on how to use the law effectively.
A resource person and lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt Dr Titilayo Osuagwu advocated for gender complimentary roles and also stressed that women have to be deliberate in advancing each other’s causes.
The workshop had as its theme “Credible Elections & Democratic Governance.”
It is one of the activities being implemented by IPC, as lead partner and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), under Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGNII) project.
About 40 journalists from the South-South and South-East geo-political zones participated in the two-day workshop.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
