Victor EzejaSenior editors in Nigerian media space have highlighted the need for capacity building of personnel both in media practice and use of technology to boost professionalism.
They made the call during the Third FrontFoot Media Roundtable on 15th August 2024, where not less than 40 editors gathered to discuss “The Nexus Between Media and Government Accountability.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe senior media professionals held discussions on a wide range of issues affecting media practice, especially in Nigeria.
According to a communique issued at the end of the roundtable, signed by Nigerian Guild of Editors President, Eze Anaba, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, Ken Ugbechie, Vice President (South), and Director & Partner, FrontFoot Media Initiative, Emeka Izeze, the editors emphasised the need for collaboration among players and stakeholders for the sustainability of the media ecosystem.
They underscored the influence of technology on Media practice, saying: “Tech is an enabler and is growing in application in the industry. However, it has created a severe divide between tech-compliant personnel deficient in journalism know-how and experienced journalists who need more digital technical knowledge and ability.”
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They, therefore said “the media must bridge the gap between technology and journalism” and also “prioritise capacity building and education for its new intakes and retraining for old hands.”
“Passion must exist alongside ethics, capacity, and knowledge,” the communique added.
They also called for better cooperation between the media and civil society organisations like the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Media Rights Agenda and the FrontFoot Media Initiative to develop training and support programmes for media professionals.
They expressed concerns about challenges associated with intellectual property rights and how Google currently deals with Nigerian media houses, and called for enhancement of professionalism among practitioners to curb the growing trend of “wilful plagiarism, wrongful or non-attribution of story sources.”
Highlighting series of attacks on media through legal action, aimed at muffling voices, the editors came up with idea of creating a Libel Defence Fund to assist media houses facing legal battles bordering on defamation among others.They also expressed concern about challenges encountered by media in the course of discharging their duties of holding government accountable as stipulated in Chapter 2, Sections 2 and 22 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and resolved that “media must act in several positive ways to uphold its constitutional obligations and ensure its continued survival to serve Nigeria.”
Consistency in Audit Reporting to Hold Government accountable
According to the communique, FrontFoot Media Initiative organised the forum to provide feedback to the media community on its three-year training programme for journalists across the country on the rudiments of audit reporting for enhanced government accountability.
The CSO had organised two-day workshops for journalists in Benin, Awka, Abuja, Lagos, and Gombe.
The senior journalists stressed that consistent reportage of the statutory government audit reports at federal, state and local government levels would enable the media to improve its ability to hold governments accountable.
They decried a troubling trend whereby governors have increasingly used their influence and powers to emasculate the office of the Auditor-General.
Call for media support
The editors also noted the absence of official support of any kind to the media despite the high cost of production in the industry. “The media must demand government support through tariffs and policies to create an enabling environment for sustainability,” they stated, adding that “The media must reinvent itself.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
