The United Kingdom Government, in partnership with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), lately sponsored no fewer than 60 Nigerian journalists for specialised coaching in science and know-how reporting geared toward strengthening moral journalism, combating misinformation, and selling evidence-based reporting.
The coaching, themed ‘Advancing Media Freedom through Science and Technology Journalism’, introduced collectively journalists from completely different media organisations throughout Nigeria, together with THISDAY’s Sunday Ehigiator; for periods targeted on science communication, media freedom, entry to data, and the affect of know-how on journalism observe.
Speaking on the programme, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, reaffirmed the UK’s dedication to supporting press freedom and accountable journalism in Nigeria, stressing the necessity for correct and evidence-based reporting in an period dominated by speedy technological modifications and misinformation.
According to Baxter, “the coaching was designed to equip journalists with the abilities wanted to collect knowledge, problem misinformation, and talk verified scientific data responsibly.
“In an age of rapid technological change, accurate, ethical and evidence-based reporting has never been more essential,” he stated, whereas noting that unverified data circulating on digital platforms has elevated the duty on journalists to supply factual and balanced stories.
He additionally highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the British High Commission and Nigerian media professionals by means of a sequence of capacity-building initiatives held in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom over the past two years.
The (*60*) of the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, Ikechukwu Obiaya, described journalism as a public service that should stay rooted in fact, equity, accountability, and moral duty.
Obiaya warned that the rise of social media and digital platforms had created a “free-for-all” data surroundings the place skilled journalism more and more competes with misinformation and ideologically-driven narratives.
“Good journalism is that which is accurate, fair, ethical and responsible,” he stated, including that the general public is dependent upon the media not just for data but in addition for steering on essential societal points.
One of the facilitators from the Lagos Business School, Prof. Silk UgwuOgbu, famous that media freedom can’t be separated from freedom of expression and entry to data, whilst she recognized poor entry to public information, political strain, industrial affect, and self-censorship as main challenges dealing with journalists in Nigeria.
The initiative varieties a part of the UK authorities’s broader assist for science communication and innovation partnerships with Nigeria and Ghana beneath its Science, Technology and Innovation technique.
Earlier this yr, the UK Government and PAU had organised comparable science and know-how reporting workshops in Abuja and Lagos involving dozens of Nigerian journalists, with some members later chosen for fully-funded publicity visits to the United Kingdom.
Sunday Ehigiator
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