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By Chika Nwachukwu
Ahead of the 2023 General Election, an International Non-govermental organisation, Search for Common Ground has urged journalists in the country to fact-check their reports before publishing as well as ensure that their reports are conflict sensitive.
Speaking after a 3-day workshop on sustaining electoral engagement for democracy, facilitated by the organisation and supported by the National Democratic Institute, (NDI), and the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID), its Project Program Coordinator, Perry Tukuwei stated that with the general election around the corner, there was need to strengthen the capacity of journalists in conflict sensitive reporting, mitigating hate speech, fact checking and also how media can be a positive driver of change.
He added that the training which targeted media stakeholders, including new media influencers created an opportunity for the participants to come out with an action plan to implement programmes around supporting and strengthening the electoral process as well as creating an inclusive environment for women, youths, People With Disability (PWD) as well as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
“The election is a dicey period where anything can lead to chaos. For us, the idea is to strengthen the capacity of media stakeholders on conflict sensitive reporting during the election as well as fact-checking which is an integral tool in journalism,” he said.
Also speaking, the Organization’s National Media Specialist, Temisan Etietsola disclosed that after the training, the organisation will support the trained media professionals to establish state-level Common Ground Journalist Forums (CGJ Forums)—a coalition of media professionals dedicated to upholding free, fair, and responsible media.
“Search has established CGJ Forums in a handful of states across Nigeria, which meet regularly to discuss prevailing issues within their state, exchange lessons, and coordinate their respective and collective reporting on key issues. This will be an important platform for media professionals to coordinate in the lead-up to and during post-election periods in 2023 to amplify messages of peace and mitigate hate speech,” he said.
Speaking on the impact of the programme, Stephanie Adams-Douglas of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development said the training’s components demonstrate how important it is for journalists to comprehend the political and electoral process in order to write accurate electioneering reports.
“With the help of the ‘media and conflict tree, fact-checking and identity practical’, I feel better equipped,” she said.
