From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Mrs Ene Obi, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria
Journalists in Nigeria have been told to refrain from reporting stories that could throw the country into crisis, chaos and anarchy.
Journalists were also reminded of the need to embrace the spirit of patriotism in the practice of their noble profession with a charge to focus more on issues that would foster unity and progress of the nation.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a 3-day media training organised by ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, with funding from Global community Engagement and Resilience Fund, GCERF, Geneva Switzerland for selected journalists from Kogi and Nasarawa States.
The workshop with the theme “Advanced Conflict-Sensitive Reportage” held at Goshen Guest House, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State is targeted at shaping the knowledge of participants on the techniques of writing stories that could reduce violet extremism in Nigeria.
According to the communiqué, the voices of the vulnerable groups in conflict communities can only be heard through media reportage.
The communiqué emphasized that Journalists should build peace initiatives through reports and campaigns targeted at duty bearers to address early warning signs through their publications and reports.
It further stated that Media practitioners should identify peace builders in a conflict and give them platforms to promote peace in conflict situations as part of peace journalism.
Furthermore, the communiqué revealed that, journalists should deploy technology in their investigation to keep up with current trends in the profession in line with international best practices.
In addition, it stated that media practitioners should build a synergy and collaborate to promote peace and reduce the incidence of radicalisation to violent extremism in Nigeria, Kogi and Nasarawa States in particular, among other resolutions.
In her remark, the Country Director of AAN, Ene Obi, urged Journalists to collaborate with Human Right Organisations and speak for the vulnerable in the society as part of their contributions to the development of Nigeria.
Obi noted that, children, youths, women and the aged people were the most vulnerable group in the society even as she called on Nigerians to stand for justice for them and be gender sensitive.
She thanked participants for availing themselves for the training and charged them to make judicious use of what they have learnt.