As the second wave of Coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc nationwide, the Nigerian Press Council in collaboration with the EME’GS limited, have assembled a team of journalists from the South-east geopolitical zones on how best to protect selves while discharging their primary responsibilities. OKECHUKWU ONUEGBU reports the outcome of the workshop.
Early January this year, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Geneva based organisation, reported that over 600 journalists have died worldwide since inception of coronavirus pandemic. PEC while explaining that at least 28 of these journalists were from Africa, observed that most of them contracted the virus either in course of performing their primary responsibilities or living their private lives. It therefore called for priority vaccination of media workers among other special cares.The call was necessary given that media men work round the clock to update the populace on impacts of the deadly virus including the efforts of the governments, researchers, medical experts and others to contain its spread and effects on earth. This could be why in Nigeria, the journalists were placed on the lists of people performing essential services during the COVID-19 lockdown.
As a second wave of the deadly virus came calling, journalists are still in the field reporting it like other parts of the world despite several challenges it posed to them.
NPC explains reason for training
This could be why the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), in collaboration with EME’GS limited organised a two day workshop in Enugu with a view to educating journalists from the South-east region on the role of media in the fight against COVID-19.Speaking at the occasion, the executive secretary, NPC, Mr Francis Nwosu, said the workshop was imperative considering the numerous challenges confronting the war against pandemic such as fake news, misinformation, disinformation and others.
Nwosu, who urged the journalists to be guided by the ethics of the profession, explained that their position was vital to the society as they educate, enlighten, advocate and entertain the society through their various media platforms.
Journalists have been the Vanguard – NUJ boss
The president, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, however, hinted that the media had been discharging its duties perfectly especially as regards coronavirus pandemic although often constrained by insecurity, lack of funds, lack of personal protective equipment and others.According to him, members of the fourth estate of the ream have been the worst worst hit by the pandemic, because they work without protection and under unfavourable environment.Isiguzo also urged the federal government and state governors to consider the plights of media workers with better welfare packages, insurance, security and others, stressing that journalists are able and ready to combat fake news, disinformation and misinformation trailing the pandemic especially on the social media.Corroborating the NUJ president’s stand that the traditional media were not relenting in supporting the war against pandemic, Enugu state commissioner for information, Hon Chidi Aro, who declared the workshop open, observed that journalists dominating the social media were affecting the war through spreading of fake news.Aro therefore enjoined journalists to take over the cyber space with a view to stemming the tide with ethical and unbiased reportages they were known for.
Other participants justify the essence
Similarly, the director, Parliamentary Consult, Abuja, Dr Emeka Nwosu, pointed out that the media was factored into the work plan of the federal government task force on COVID-19 coordinated by the secretary to the government of the federation.Nwosu enumerated some challenges affecting the effectiveness of the media in the coverage of the pandemic as getting information from the right source, authenticity of information, fake news, misinformation, cultural factors and ignorance. He therefore called for adequate investments in the media by way of capacity building and financial empowerment as it would enable them to do much more through meaningful reportage to ensure that the spread of coronavirus pandemic is effectively controlled. The chairman, NUJ Enugu state council, Mr Rex Alum, who subscribed to the idea, discloses that presenting journalists with necessary supports would also make it easier for the public to know the whole truth about the pandemic, innovations and breakthroughs recorded by the experts.In a paper entitled, ‘Assessing the Strength and Weakness of Social Media in Reporting COVID-19 Pandemic, Dr Maxwell Menkiti Ngene of Department of Mass Communications, Renaissance University, Enugu, said journalists are well positioned to utilise the platforms to the benefits of all due to their knowledge of the laws and ethics of the profession.Ngene, who maintained that the information dissemination was one of the most basic and important functions or roles of the mass media in every society regardless of the type of government in power, said that the new media make it simpler and far reaching.“Information Communication Technologies have brought dramatic and far reaching wave of innovations or changes on the ways journalists, broadcasters and other content creators operate.
The social media is also referred to as the new media. It is a transformative technological development which helps to surmount some long term barriers to reporting and other forms of media production and distribution generally. “Powerful new technology makes the manipulation and fabrication of content simple, and social networks dramatically amplify falsehoods peddled by states, populist politicians, and dishonest corporate entities as they are shared by uncritical publics. The platforms have become fertile ground for computational propaganda ‘trolling’ and ‘troll armies’; ‘sock-puppet’ networks’, and ‘spoofers’. It is important to point out that those who use the social media are not passive rather they are very active media consumers,” he stated. Dr Taye Obateru of University of Jos, who spoke on Ethical Considerations and Safety of Journalists during COVID-19 Reporting, advised the media to observe all the COVID-19 protocols approved by the WHO as well as ensuring they were healthy before embarking on their primary duty.“It is important to maintain your psychological well being and replenish your inner resources. The journalism profession exposes you to dangerous and stressful situations. Journalists experience various types of trauma while performing their professional duties. Take care of your mental health to enable you continue your good work as journalists. Do not stress yourself to breaking point; your organisation would replace you within days or weeks if anything happens to you.“Always verify your data, stick to the facts, report responsibly, respect sources confidentiality, be humane, practice accountability, avoid stigmatisation or stereotyping, check use of terminologies before you send in your reports,” Obateru maintained.
Some of the participants at the programme including the chairman, NUJ Anambra state council, Comrade Emma Ifesinachi, Comrade Innocent Igwe of Imo State Broadcasting Service and Comrade Ogara Harrison of the Starlite Newspapers, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the training, assuring that they would stepdown the knowledge to their colleagues so as to sanitise the new and traditional media.
