By Ayo Kehinde
The Nigeria Guild of Editors, the Institute of Media and Society, IMS and the International Press Center and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, have joined the rest of the world in celebrating the World Press Freedom Day 2020 with the theme; Journalism Without Fear or Favour, with a salute to the bravery of journalists in face of the daunting challenges posed by the daily coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
The sub-themes are: ”Safety of Women and Men Journalists and Media Workers”; ”Independent and Professional Journalism Free From Political and Commercial Influence;” and ” Gender Equality in All Aspect of the Media”.
The Guild of Editors demanded special protection for journalists covering Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement by its President, Mr Mustapha Isah and Mr Ken Ugbechie, Social and Publicity Secretary, the organisation, on Sunday, congratulated all journalists in the country and across the world, especially those in the frontline covering the Covid-19 pandemic and urged media owners to provide special protective equipment for these journalists, in order for them not to be infected.
“Journalists across the world have had to face daunting challenges and dangers in the discharge of their duties with some having to pay the supreme price, while others have been harassed and jailed.
“For instance, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a non-governmental organisation, says 55 journalists across 23 countries have died from Covid-19 infection between March and April, 2020. This is aside from the six journalists killed by state actors this year alone across the globe, and about 250 more languishing in different prisons and detention centres. The body of editors therefore, demands the immediate release of all detained journalists in Nigeria and all over the world.
While it commiserated with the families and friends of our departed colleagues, the Guild urged all journalists to abide by the basic protocol of the World Health Organisation (WHO), namely, maintaining physical distancing, washing of hands regularly, wearing of masks, among others and urged journalists to use their various media platforms to enlighten the publics on the need to observe these protocols and any other precautionary measures.
The Guild aligns with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in calling on journalists to act professionally as “antidote” to the pandemic of misinformation and fake news, bordering on harmful health advice and conspiracy theories surrounding the Covid-19 crisis.
The NGE insists that, as journalists, we must not at any time abuse the right to press freedom to disseminate false and unverified stories on Covid-19 pandemic or any other subject matter.
The Guild commended the Federal and State governments as well as all relevant health institutions and personnel for their spirited efforts at containing the novel viral pandemic and condemned the harassment of journalists in some states by security personnel during the lockdown.
The Guild urges all relevant stakeholders, including media professionals, to forge a synergy that would engender the realisation of these lofty themes for the good of society and mankind.
According to Dr Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of the IMS, in a statement on Sunday, journalism finds itself in a situation where it has to provide information and education to diverse audiences in which there is limited understanding of the nature of this disease and destructive potentials. In many contexts, misinformation and disinformation are competing vigorously for the public space.
This tasks the navigational competences of journalists.
He said, “Available evidence shows that journalists are doing a lot in providing accurate and timely information on the pandemic and the efforts of various national institutions in containing it.
“However, the Institute for Media and Society is worried about the critical challenges that journalists in Nigeria are facing in the coverage of the pandemic. In various parts of the country, the rights of journalists have been violated in the course of performing official duty.
“In some of the recent cases, a journalist was sacked as head of a state-owned newspaper in Rivers State, two journalists were ‘barred for life’ from their duty posts in Ebonyi State, while another was arrested and detained over an interview that he anchored on a radio programme in Akwa Ibom State.
He condemned the actions and trend as unacceptable in a constitutional democracy, saying that it is improper that at a critical period that journalists need strong support and encouragement to cover the COVID-19 pandemic, political office holders and other vested interests are muzzling them.
“In the full spirit of Press Freedom Day, IMS urges national institutions to carry out the following important and urgent responsibilities:
The Government (at federal and state levels; Provide conducive environment for the media by ensuring the safety of journalists and unfettered access to information; Support the provision of insurance and protection equipment for all journalists who operate on the frontline in the coverage of Covid-19; Pay compensation to journalists whose rights have been breached
To the Civil Society: Strengthen its advocacy for the freedom of the press and partner with the media to uplift the latter’s capacity in sustaining courageous journalism
To Security agencies: Orientate their personnel on maintaining a good relationship with journalists; Engage with stakeholders institutions to develop an improved relationship between the media and security personnel.
“To the media: Continue to provide accurate and trusted information to the public on Covid-19; Commit quality attention to the transparency and accountability of public institutions in the management of the fight against Covid -19; Prioritise attention to managing the safety of journalists on the field in the coverage of Covid-19.
For the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos, the Nigerian government and related institutional bodies; the legislature, the judiciary, the security agencies and media associations, need to be reminded of the critical role they need to play for the survival of press freedom.
Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, said, “Collectively, IPC says they need to ensure an enabling environment and measures for the safety and media independence of Journalism and media practitioners.
He said that in line with this year’s theme, ‘Journalism without fear or favour’, the right to freedom of expression and the rights of the press to freely publish, editorialize, critique and inform without fear is a fundamental principle of thriving democracies, and economies of successful governments which must be upheld in Nigeria.
Arogundade noted that the government and related institutional stakeholders owe it a duty to respect and uphold press freedom while reaffirming the crucial roles of Journalists and media practitioners, especially as the Coronavirus pandemic ravages the world.
He noted the associated crisis of the pandemic have brought to fore the vital roles of the Journalism profession, as purveyors of information, providing scientific and health education to the anxious on the pandemic, alongside deflating misinformation, which in turn save lives.
According to him, the pandemic cut across all borders, hence the Nigerian government must not make media practice difficult especially as the media must continually be able to provide information to the public without fear and intimidation.
“Incessant restrictions and limits to press freedom are evident in the cases of documented attacks ( by IPC) including the use of security agents to arrest media workers and perpetrate other press freedom violations and attacks against Journalists.
“These impediments are also reflected in the government’s denial of access to information by the media, the existence of Cybercrime Act and the Anti-terrorism Act which have been actively used to suppress freedom of expression in the country, and other limitations on the rights of freedom of expression”, Mr. Arogundade stated.
“Government and related institutions must ensure the freedom of the press and remove all impediments to a free press. From recent past.”
Mr Chris Isiguzo, National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, saluted journalists for their courage and professionalism and called on them to sustain and improve on their professional calling.
He said; “It is worth reiterating that no democracy can grow and flourish without a vibrant independent media that will be a catalyst for good governance and rule of law. It is in this regard that today, we celebrate Nigerian Journalists for promoting independent journalism practice despite myriad of challenges.
“We continue to note with disdain the issue of safety and security of Journalists in the country, which have not significantly improved but rather continued to impact negatively on good journalism. It is regrettably that politicians and political office holders and agents of the state are increasingly initiating actions against Journalists which include physical assault and detention all with the sole aim of inducing fear, thus restricting quality independent practice.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference.
This special day acts as a reminder to governments, of the need to respect their commitment to Press Freedom. It also provides an opportunity for media professionals to reflect on, and renew their commitment to the best practices that promote professionalism, ethical reporting and public-spirited advocacy.
