Sunday Ehigiator
The United Kingdom Government, in partnership with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), not too long ago sponsored no fewer than 60 Nigerian journalists for specialised coaching in science and know-how reporting aimed 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 totally different media organisations throughout Nigeria, together with THISDAY’s Sunday Ehigiator; for classes centered on science communication, media freedom, entry to info, and the impression 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 adjustments and misinformation.
According to Baxter, “the coaching was designed to equip journalists with the talents wanted to assemble knowledge, problem misinformation, and talk verified scientific info responsibly.
“In an age of rapid technological change, accurate, ethical and evidence-based reporting has never been more essential,” he mentioned, whereas noting that unverified info circulating on digital platforms has elevated the accountability on journalists to offer factual and balanced experiences.
He additionally highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the British High Commission and Nigerian media professionals by a sequence of capacity-building initiatives held in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom over the past two years.
The Dean of the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, Ikechukwu Obiaya, described journalism as a public service that should stay rooted in reality, equity, accountability, and moral accountability.
Obiaya warned that the rise of social media and digital platforms had created a “free-for-all” info setting 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 mentioned, including that the general public relies upon on the media not just for info but additionally for steering on important societal points.
One of the facilitators from the Lagos Business School, Prof. Silk Ugwu Ogbu, famous that media freedom can’t be separated from freedom of expression and entry to info, at the same time as she recognized poor entry to public information, political stress, business affect, and self-censorship as main challenges going through 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 below its Science, Technology and Innovation technique.
Earlier this 12 months, 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.