Prof. Adesina Azeez of University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has said that journalists must report the 2023 general elections in a way that guarantee the security of the nation as well as their safety.
Azeez, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, Unilorin, said this while delivering a paper at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara Council’s Press Week, on Thursday in Ilorin.
“We cannot talk about the safety and security as a priority for journalists during elections without talking about how they should cover or report elections.
“They can do this if they are able to commit to and strengthen the ethos of professionalism in the practice of journalism.
“Journalist that wishes to guarantee the security of the nation and safety of his or her life must imbibe and demonstrate the professional norms of good journalism through truthfulness, objectivity, neutrality and detachment,” he said.
Azeez said that in order to underscore the importance of acquiring and imbibing a special restructured way of reporting election, there’s need to appreciate the security challenges in the country.
The expert enjoined journalists to avoid the practices of fraternisation with political aspirations of their owners that encourages them to eschew all forms of subjective or biased reporting of political events and issues.
“As Olatunji Dare once put it, ‘journalism serves the public interest best when it is grounded on facts’. Therefore, journalists should engage in a relentless search for facts, and distinguish fact from rumour.
“Partisanship and all forms of professional ethical vices do violence to the best spirit of journalism as much as it does violence to the nation and journalists themselves,” said the don.
He said that apart from the need for the inculcation of the ethos of professionalism by journalists, there was need for a sort of institutional safety mechanisms.
“The House of Representatives had once shown light in this direction with their intention to criminalise non-payment of salaries, which is a big challenge journalists are facing.
“This intention needs to be intensified and broaden to institutionalise a compulsory insurance and reliable pension scheme for journalists.
“This might enable them to shun all forms of distasteful practice that can endanger the nation as well as their lives,” he said.
The topic of discussion was “2023 Polls: Effective Media Coverage Amidst Insecurity”.
Also present at the event were representatives from EFCC, NDLEA, Road Safety and the Nigeria Police who all gave security tips to be taken before, during and after the election. (NAN)
