Communication

AI: Senator Tasks Media on Ethical Guidelines

By Web News 103

By Moyinoluwa Afolabi

News organisations need to develop clear ethical guidelines for the use of Artificial  Intelligence (AI), emphasising transparency, accountability, and respect for intellectual property. 

The guest speaker at the World Press Freedom Day lecture organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Zone B, Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Abdulfatai Buhari stated this at the Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State. 

Senator Buhari explained that such guidelines should be regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with technological advancements.

In his keynote address, the Vice Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Professor Rasaq Kalilu said, Journalists should inculcate AI into their work, but should ensure not to navigate it alone.

Professor Kalilu noted that newsrooms should use AI as a tool and not as a replacement for human intelligence.

He advised the government and stakeholders to ensure that press freedom was protected and never undermined, even in a repressive environment.

Earlier, the Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Zone B, Mrs Ronke Samo, urged Journalists to always apply the tenets of the profession while discharging their duties, particularly by ensuring accuracy, truth, and objectivity before disseminating any information to the public.

She commended the guest speaker for his support of the profession and journalists in the zone.  

The highlight of the event was the conferment of the International Guillermo Cano Media Award on the guest speaker, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari. 

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News

Press Freedom Day: Investigate Attacks on Journalists – IMS

By Web News 593

By Olaitan Oye-Adeitan

The Institute for Media and Society, IMS, has called for an investigation into all pending cases of attacks on journalists and other media professionals including those committed during the recent elections.

IMS Executive Director, Dr Akin Akingbulu made the call in his message on World Press Freedom Day.

He recognized the active role and resilience of media in Nigeria especially in the promotion of transparency, accountability, and good governance but expressed concern over the mounting challenges confronting journalists, with particular reference to the just concluded elections in Nigeria where some journalists were attacked, arrested, harassed and denied access to election activities.

Dr Akingbulu harped on the need to be more committed to their protection, provision of conducive working environment and promotion of democracy.

Dr Akin Akingbulu

 “Journalists and other media professionals have frequently exposed corruption, beamed the searchlight on human rights violation and reported on public interest events, issues and trends. In the cause of these constitutionally supported contributions, journalists have faced obstacles which jeopardised their ability to perform their duties without fear of favour”. Dr Akingbulu said.

  He also noted with dismay anti-media legislation, citing the example of laws establishing government broadcasting outfits which contained harsh censorship provisions which hamper editorial freedom.

“Equally Worrisome is the rash bills proposed for the passage into law in the National Assembly. Public Policy development is also an area of critical concern. For a long time, there has been no visible policy document for the media and expression sector”. Dr Akingbulu noted.

The IMS Director therefore wants government among other things to collaborate with media stakeholders to develop an up-to-date, international standard policy for the information sector.

 He underscored the need for reformed media legislation and broadcasting regulations in consonance with the direction of the media policy.

“Make the National Human Rights Protection Action Plan recently approved by the Federal government publicly available for citizens’ contribution and engagements. Remove all obnoxious laws such as those on sedition, criminal defamation etc. Implement the judgement of the ECOWAS court which mandated the amendments of section 24 of the cybercrime act.

While lauding the establishment of a National Media Complaints Commission, Dr Akingbulu implored the media to ensure its effective management and sustainability.

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Telecommunication

Govs. Raise Concern over Journalists Safety, Fake News

By Web News 508

Osun State Government wants stakeholders to come out with measures that will protect Journalists against the prevailing issues of digital attacks.

The state government noted that this becomes imperative for the continued guarantee of press freedom in the era of digital communication.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode.

It lauds journalists and media professionals, describing them as unsung heroes of the nation’s democracy, reaffirming its continued commitment to upholding both local and international statutes guaranteeing essential freedom of expression.

The Statement also assures journalists, especially those practising in Osun State that it would continue to do all that is legally possible to protect and make their operations as smooth as possible them.

“It is a pleasure to join the government of states and nations in the 2022 commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, as a reaffirmation of the noble role of a free press in a democracy.

“We as a government appreciate the efforts and labours of journalists and media professionals, the unsung heroes of our democracy, who have continued to provide citizens with information about our nation, our government, our lives. Their contributions have been critical to the ability of citizens to hold leaders accountable, as they explain and analyze government policies just as the constitution requires of them.

“The freedom of the press remains an essential pillar of a democratic society. Upon this recognition, the Osun Government has continued to uphold both local and international statutes guaranteeing freedom of expression, but unfortunately, the freedom of the press has continued to be attacked especially by non-state actors who are particular about circumventing the truth.”

It says this year’s theme, “Journalism under Digital Siege”, is very apposite to the goings-on in the media space, as it aims to highlight the multiple ways in which journalists and journalism are endangered by surveillance and digitally meditated attacks.

“The sponsors of this brand of attack have an agenda, which is inimical to public good and wellbeing. This explains why on a day like this, and indeed going forward, relevant stakeholders, including policymakers, journalists, media representatives, activists, cyber security managers, and legal experts, should come together to explore these issues and develop concrete solutions so that the threats posed by increased digital mediation to press freedom and privacy can be addressed.

“We seize this occasion to register our respect and sympathy to journalists who are being harassed, are in danger, and those whose lives have been lost in the cause of their professional duty.

“On our part as a responsible and responsive government we will continue to do all that is legally possible to protect journalists and journalism in the State of the Virtuous, in the collective interest of the good people of Osun”, the statement read.

Also in Ogun, the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, wants media professionals to tackle fake news vendors and abstain from propaganda capable of truncating security and peace in the country.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kunle Somorin, Governor Abiodun stressed the need for Journalists to always ensure accurate and objective reportage.

The Governor described journalists as the bastion of democracy and urged them not to allow themselves to be used to destabilize or heat up the polity.

Governor Abiodun who noted that though media professionals work in hostile environment in some countries, they have been able to discharge their duties of informing, educating, entertaining and setting agenda for development and growth.

While urging Journalists not to derail from performing their constitutional and social responsibility, the Governor said media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, would be accorded a priority in his administration.

He reiterated that his administration would continue to create conducive atmosphere for the media to thrive and discharge their duties without fear or favour.

Bolanle Adesida / Abiodun Adeoye

Telecommunication

NUJ Zone B Advocates more Protective Policies for Journalists

By Web News 544

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone B, has eulogized journalists all over the world, particularly Nigerian journalists in appreciation of their painstaking efforts toward ensuring that the public is properly and broadly informed.

Vice President of the Zone, Comrade Ronke Samo in a release on Tuesday lauded journalists all over the world for remaining resolute, hard-working, and undaunted in the face of myriads of challenges confronting the profession which according to her, included hostile government policies, maltreatment, and assassination of journalists and poor remuneration all over the world.

She particularly identified with the plight of reporters in Nigeria given the fact that findings by reliable monitoring bodies that Nigeria ranked among nations that present a hostile environment for reporting.

Comrade Samo in her release to herald the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), urged journalists not to relent in their efforts geared toward ensuring that our society is properly, truthfully, and broadly informed in a most professional way in spite of the hostility and threatening environment.

She added that such an undaunting gesture will not only free our society but also defeat the enemies of progress in the shortest possible time. 

Noting that today’s celebration of the WPFD has been tagged: “Journalism under digital siege,” she identifies with reporters in this age of digital hostility against the profession, urging them not to lose focus but continue to be resolutely professional.

“Today marks the celebration of our struggle for the freedom of the press and we must rejoice, even in the face of daunting challenges, this is because we have actually been winning the war against several attempts and actions by the hostile stakeholders to gag the press. The freedom of the press ensures justice, fairness, and true freedom of any society and scares away evildoers.

This is the reason we must remain resolutely professional in performing our duty as the fourth estate of the realm.  

According to agency reports, the theme of this year’s WPFD spotlights the multiple ways in which journalism is endangered by surveillance and digitally-mediated attacks on journalists, and the consequences of all these on public trust in digital communications.”

“The foregoing shows that our common enemy as Journalists today is the challenge we are facing with being under a digital siege. 

While we urge our colleagues to be discreet and professional in performing their duties so as to avoid possible pitfalls and banana peels, we equally urge the state to urgently formulate policies and put in place frameworks that would protect the Press from this emerging threat from advancement in digital technology. This should be done in a most patriotic manner because of the fact that a truly free press will bring progress, fairness, justice, and true freedom to our society.

“On this note, l salute the courage and resilience of our colleagues in performing their duties and also appreciate efforts by all stakeholders, especially friendly and supportive government agencies, non -governmental organizations, and activists, among others in ensuring true freedom for the press.

PR/Morenike Esan

Politics

Press Freedom Day: FG Reiterates Support for a Free Press

By Web News 572

The Federal Government has urged the media to be mindful of sponsored political news and publications capable of inciting hatred, division, violence, and chaos in the country during the forthcoming general elections. 

It also wants the media to ensure that the electoral umpire and other stakeholders play their roles in delivering free, fair, credible, and transparent elections to Nigerians.

Rejoicing with media practitioners on World Press Freedom Day, President Muhammadu Buhari called for unity in supporting media professionals, who work hard to de-escalate violent conflict and promote peaceful societies without compromising the responsibility to report. 

He urged government information managers to ensure that the press and the general public had access to facts and figures about government activities without hassles.

The president reiterated the government’s commitment to freedom of the press, pledging to continue ensuring the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the lawful performance of their professional duties.

He charged the Nigerian Press to use World Press Freedom Day to reflect on the need to embrace the best professional standards and practices, especially in the build-up to the forthcoming general elections.

President Buhari noted that the free performance of media roles and responsibilities during the electoral process was as important as the sanctity and will of Nigerians, expressed through the ballot box.

In line with the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, ‘‘Journalism under digital siege”, the president assured that government agencies under his watch would always stand against actions that were capable of limiting the preservation of the freedom of the press as guaranteed by the country’s constitution. 

He said the government was working hard to support media organisations in Nigeria through the provision of better internet access to underserved communities, and the achievement of 95 percent digital literacy by 2030.

President Buhari thanked members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, whose diligent work has helped in guaranteeing peace, stability, and progress in the country.

World Press Freedom Day is observed on May 3rd annually. 

Abdullah Bello

News

Prioritise Welfare of Journalists Nationwide- Stakeholders

By Web News 890

Press freedom day is a global event commemorated annually to advocate media independence. 

The United Nations General Assembly declared every May 3rd as World Press Freedom day to raise awareness on the importance of press freedom and also reminded government at all levels of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Speaking on the essence of the day, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ondo State Council, Mr. Adetona Aderoboye noted that press freedom was not only for the development of the media industry but for overall good of the country. 

Mr. Aderoboye who submitted that the press should not be gagged by government described as false the belief across the land that the institution was an intruder. 

Expatiating on the challenges facing the Nigeria Press, Ondo State NUJ General Secretary, Mr Leke Adegbite lamented the poor condition of service of the journalist particularly in the private sector. 

Other journalists who spoke with Radio Nigeria charged government and private organizations to prioritise the welfare of men of the pen profession across the nation.

Shola Oguntoye