Ahead of the off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo states on September 21 and November 16, respectively, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has organised a webinar for journalists and media practitioners on conflict-sensitive reporting. The virtual engagement, titled “Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Election: Best Practices and Ethical Considerations,” was organised in collaboration with
Ahead of the off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo states on September 21 and November 16, respectively, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has organised a webinar for journalists and media practitioners on conflict-sensitive reporting.
The virtual engagement, titled “Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Election: Best Practices and Ethical Considerations,” was organised in collaboration with the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme and tasked journalists with prioritising ethics and professionalism in their coverage of the upcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states to avoid tensions and conflicts.
Setting the ball rolling at the webinar, the Executive Director of CAPPA, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, who was represented by a Senior Programme Manager in the organisation, Abayomi Asiru said the engagement was expedient to further prepare journalists and media practitioners with vital knowledge that would be needed in their duties while covering the off cycle in Edo and Ondo states.
Mr Akinbode acknowledged the role of the media and the journalists in conducting successful elections in the country, and due to that the organization has been on its feet to engage journalists across the six geographical zones across Nigeria to ensure the democratic process in the country is sustainable with peace and to avoid conflict before, during and after the elections.
“We’ve also had webinars covering different issues including the security of journalists, conflict sensitivity, and how to ensure that the democratic process becomes robust and expansive enough to allow for a sustainable transition across states and also at the national level.
“But for this conversation, we’re specifically looking at the ethics and other considerations that we should have as journalists to help the people of Edo state to make informed choices, and to ensure that the way we report elections does not trigger conflict”, Mr. Akinbode said.
Speaking as a facilitator the Deputy Chairman of the Joint Action Front and National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Achike Chude, emphasised the importance of ethical practices by the journalists during the elections to prevent escalation of crisis during the poll. He further explained that while elections are one of the strongholds of a democratic government, as they contribute to the active participation of the citizens and accountability of the leaders, the media is responsible for shaping the narrative by reporting electoral matters to inform the electorates on the right decisions to make at the voting points.
As a result, Mr. Chude urged the journalists to deploy their training to perform their roles with security consciousness and awareness of their roles as a strong institution to either make or mar the election.
He also admonished them to be conversant with the electoral rules that guide the conduct and practice on election day and have knowledge of security guidelines regarding timing, as well as the movement of people and sensitive electoral materials to successfully navigate the terrain.
“Issues of elections are critical to the development of any country. As such, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society groups, and the media must forge a healthy synergy to ensure successful conduct and reportage of polls.
“Unfortunately, in Nigeria, some security agencies and the electoral body sometimes collude with unscrupulous politicians to undermine the electoral process. To that extent, journalists are usually caught up in the middle of electoral violence, but they (reporters) must ensure their safety first and be very knowledgeable about the laws that govern elections at any point in time,” Chude said.
In her presentation, Executive-in-Charge of Media Mentors Journalism Centre, Ms. Joke Kujenya focused on the core principles of conflict-sensitive reporting (CSR) as accuracy, balance, avoiding stereotypes, minimising harm, and remaining consistent.
She elaborated on the need for cautious coverage of events, especially elections, in conflict-sensitive reporting to avoid escalating tensions and conflicts and to guarantee that journalism maintains ethical standards while promoting peace and stability.
She urged reporters to report the polls objectively, pointing out that Edo is still one of the nation’s most sensitive states in the South-South.
She emphasised the importance of conflict-sensitive reporting in reducing the risk of violence and conflict escalation; ensuring balanced and fair coverage of all parties involved; promoting peaceful discourse; protecting journalists from becoming targets; and increasing public trust in the media and journalists as core professionals.
To avoid escalation of violence during the election, Ms Kujenya urged the media to prioritize issue-based reporting instead of controversial discourse which led to crisis during the election, rather than amplifying inflammatory statements or perspectives.
She also urged journalists to focus on highlighting policy debates, peaceful initiatives, and solutions and avoid sensational reports that are capable of provoking violence.
