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IPC trains journalists on combating information disorder in democratic governance

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Nigeria’s foremost media capacity development organisation, the International Press Center (IPC), has organised a two-day capacity building programme for selected journalists on combating information disorder in a democratic governance using fact-checking and Freedom of Information Act (FOI) tools.

The two-day workshop held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was funded by the European Union (EU) and 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 (EUSDGN II) project.

With the theme :”Credible Elections & Democratic Governance” , the organisers said the training programme was aimed at building the capacity of journalists towards combating the spread of fake news and misinformation , two twin anomalies ravaging the society today.

It was also aimed at equipping media practitioners with the relevant skills to effectively utilise the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and fact checking tools as well as deepen their knowledge of inclusive reporting of gender on politics and election related matters.

The journalists were drawn from different media houses comprising the online, print and broadcast stations in South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, respectively.

Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, posited that fact-checking was imperative for investigative journalism, adding that every journalist armed with the skills would not only excel in the profession but easily gain exposure to various opportunities, including international organisations and lovers of good journalism.

He explained that fact-checking has become a crucial aspect of journalism that helps to limit circulation of falsehood.

He said that the media plays a pivotal role in influencing public sentiment and upholding the integrity of electoral processes, but noted that amidst the vast expanse of information, combating misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda poses a significant challenge.

Arogundade, who took the participating journalists through the rudiments of fact checking using modern tools like Deeptrace, TinEye, Osintessentials and InVid, encouraged the media practitioners to unlearn bad habits, stereotypes and bias because allowing “the pictures in the heads” to manifest in their reporting or information dissemination was unethical practices which could lead to many negatives.

According to Arogundade, “The training program stands as a guiding light that offers a way forward towards a more knowledgeable, discerning, and robust media environment.”

Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Edetaen Ojo drilled the participants on how to effectively use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information from public institutions and officials.

Ojo hinted that the FOI Act helps to ensure transparency & accuracy in information dissemination, as well as reveal inconsistencies in public statements or reports issued by government officials.

He also listed other investigative and research methodologies like survey gizmo, formstack, sogosurvey and crowdsignal that could assist journalists obtain relevant information so as to inform the public accurately.

According to him, “journalists have not made significant use of the FOI Act in the last 12 years”.

He said that:”The Act remains a veritable tool to obtaining accurate and reliable information especially in the present era of evolving computer age.”

“The whole point of the Freedom of Information Act is for citizens including journalists to get information from public institutions and officials.

“Media professionals are in information business. As a result, it is important that when we have an instrument that enables us to ask and get information and have the assurance that the information is accurate and reliable, then we should utilise that instrument.”

In her presentation, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Titi Osuagwu, urged the participants and other media professionals to shun gender discrimination in their journalism practice. She also encouraged them to be gender sensitive in their reporting of events and join hands in giving women voice in political and election matters.

She revealed that journalists could become gender justice advocates by interviewing women on political issues same way they interview men, apply gender sensitive languages in their reportage, promote women political participation, investigate and report accurately without showing bias to any gender on issues pertaining to women and participation in governance.

Earlier in the programme, IPC Communications Officer, Ms Olutoyin Ayoade in an introductory speech said the programme stood as a guiding light that could offer a way forward towards a more knowledgeable, discerning, and robust media environment in this age characterised by the swift propagation of information.

She noted that the media plays a pivotal role in influencing public sentiment and upholding the integrity of electoral processes. Yet, amidst the vast expanse of information, combating misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda poses a significant challenge hence the need for such capacity building for journalists.

A participant, Rita Enemuru described the training programme as a golden opportunity to grow and develop the requisite skills and knowledge needed to excel in this digital era.

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