Global Rights task Journalists on prioritising safety in conflict situation

Global Rights task Journalists on prioritising safety in conflict situation 

Conflict

By Fortune Abang

Abuja, July 9, 2023 (NAN) Global Rights, an international human rights and governance capacity-building organisation, has advised Journalists to always prioritise their safety in reporting conflict situations.

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu Chair of Global Rights Board, made the call  in Abuja at the two-day training on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting for Journalists.

 The two-day event which held from July 5 and 6 was attended by selected 29 Journalists out of over 300 said to have applied for the programme from across the country.

Odinkalu, a former Chair, Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission said the call became important for Journalists to be conflict-sensitive, in reporting issues of topical interest.

“We believe that objective reporting is a virtue, it is the right thing to do, as much as possible pursue the fact.

“Wherever there is the need to report conflict related issues, try and reflect them in a balanced, and informed ways and let the public make up their minds.

“It entails that you protect everything about your digital life, your relationships, where you live, your movement and friendships.

“How you look out for your families, what you eat, what you drink, where you eat and where you drink.

“If you are going to be doing conflict reporting in Nigeria  nothing is too insignificant, you have to  review how you live.” 

He decried the spate of conflicts during and after elections which he said hindered credible journalism and urged Journalists to always arm themselves against conflict.

For his part, Mr Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-in-chief of Premium Times, urged Journalists to always verify the authenticity of their information sources before reporting.

Mojeed in a paper titled: “Tapping sources for investigating conflicts and atrocities” said reporting wrong information about conflicts could escalate related crisis. 

“Such could further degenerate to conflicts and atrocities, some of us Journalists take sides and when you take sides, you escalate crisis.

“Thereby, helping to increase tension, what Journalists should always remember is when you escalate crisis, you can be consumed.

“So, we have the responsibility as Journalists to ensure that we are conflict sensitive all the time.

“When you are writing or posting on social media think about it; are my helping to diffuse conflict, are my worsening the crisis or are my taking sides?

Meanwhile, Mr Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICRI), attributed conflict to corruption that needed to be curbed. 

Aiyetan who presented a paper on: “Introspection to investigative journalism” said the training was designed to develop critical reporting capacity for the Nigerian media. 

“The reason our main focus is to develop critical reporting capacity for the media is that we are not doing enough to hold government accountable. 

“If we don’t tackle corruption management and insecurity now, fifty years from now our children’s children will continue to suffer what we suffered. 

“They will continue to deal with what we are dealing with now, this is why Journalists must try to understand the issues.” 

The training also featured lecture on realities of mass atrocities in Nigeria by Edosa Oviawe, Programme Manager of Global Rights.

Similarly, participants also received  lectures on ensuring personal safety when reporting conflicts situation by Hafez Yesufu, IT/Security Consultant, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.com.ng)