By Udeme Hosea
As part of its objectives of strengthening the media for fair, accurate, ethical, and inclusive reporting of electoral processes and combating information disorder/fake news in democratic governance,
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria, has commenced a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists on combating information disorder reporting using fact-checking and FOI tools.
The ongoing workshop, which is under Component 4 of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has 40 journalists in attendance, drawn from states in the South-South and South East regions of the country.
Welcoming participants to the training, the Communications Officer, of the International Press Center (IPC), Olutoyin Ayoade, explained that the workshop aimed to strengthen the media for fair, accurate, ethical,, and inclusive reporting of electoral processes and elections.
Particularly, Ayoade said it seeks to combat information disorder/fake news in democratic governance reporting using fact-checking and FOI tools.
She added that the programme, which is a guiding light that offers a way forward toward a more knowledgeable, discerning and media-robust environment, is
funded by the European Union.
The organizers and participants at the workshop
Ayoade noted the role of the media in influencing public sentiments and upholding the integrity of the electoral processes, pointing out that the theme: “Credible Elections & Democratic Governance,” underscores the fundamental principles upon which our societies lie at the heart of democracy, in addition to empowering the citizens to exercise their rights, holding their leaders accountable and charting the course of their collective future.
According to her, the emergence of information disorder posses a grave threat to the very foundation of democratic governance, as it sows seeds of doubt, division, and distrust.
The Executive Director, International Press Center (IPC), Lagos, Mr Lanre Arogundade, in his presentation on “Pictures in Your Head, Good Journalism and Why Fact-Checking/ Verification Matters,” hinted that it is dangerous when the picture in a reporter’s head is not the same as what is in the mind of the public, because it may lead to misinformation.
Day One of the training series also covered other topics including, “Post-Election Reporting: Using Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and other Investigative Methodologies to Report Democratic Governance and Electoral Accountability Issues,” by the Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Lagos, Mr Edetaen Ojo, and “Deepening Reportage of Gender Issues Post-Election,” by Dr Titi Osuagwu of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, among others.