NUJ-ICE holds capacity building workshop for journalists

NUJ-ICE holds capacity building workshop for journalists
Uche Iheanacho, Abuja

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in conjunction with The Initiative for Civil Education (ICE) has organised a Capacity Building Workshop for Nigerian Journalists on Election Reporting and Formal Presentation of NUJ’s Publication on Source Material for Nigerian Journalist on Election Reporting.

The event was aimed at enhancing the skill of Journalists in critical areas such as election, political and conflict reporting.

The programme

The programme was also organised to address the fundamental elements of journalism practice necessary for correct and mature reporting of the electoral process.

The workshop objectives include to equip participants with relevant source materials necessary for reporting the 2011 general election and to emphasize the need for compliance with high ethical standards in the coverage of the election in line with the approved Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.

The workshop was also geared towards encouraging participants to be objective, fair and balanced in their analyses of electoral matters. It was meant to expose participants to the relevant legal framework within which they will operate during the general election.

Mallam Garba Muhammed, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said, “the workshop underscores the commitment of Journalist obligation as provided for under chapter 2, section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on the Fundamental Objective and Directive Principles of State Policy”.

Watchdog function

According to the section “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communication, Mr Labaran Maku, represented at the event by Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa, Director-General of Voice of Nigeria and Chairman, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, affirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to a free, fair and credible 2011 general election.

The Minister said, “the media has the capacity to hold the country’s leaders and government to ransom in the interest of democracy and good governance”

The minister noted that information management should be key to effective governance and a certain percentage of national budget should be allocated for its efficiency.

Ekata