By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Journalists have been charged to
ensure factual accuracy of electoral reports, particularly by setting aside personal biases and avoid presenting opinions as facts.
Journalists were also charged to make it a professional and ethical duty to enhance the integrity of electoral information by not only avoiding but also countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech.
These were contained in a communique issued at the end of a two – day training on fact-checking workshops for journalists from Kogi, Bayelsa ad Imo States ahead the off-cycle governorship elections in the three States on November 11, 2023, organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria supported by the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP).
The objective of the workshop held at Hawthorn Suites & Hotels, Abuja.
was to strengthen national capacities to prevent and mitigate the threats of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech to the integrity of electoral information and democracy.
According to the communique signed by Stella Nwofia, the Programme Manager International Press Centre (IPC) enjoined Journalists to accept the obligation of setting a public-interest agenda for the governorship elections in the three states.
Journalists were also told to embrace the fact-checking methods and digital tools and to imbibe the art of questioning as a valuable skill necessary for being detectives of disinformation and misinformation.
“Uphold accountability journalism at elections by making key electoral stakeholders such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the political parties, the candidates and the law enforcement and security agencies accountable to the public.”
“Take all professional steps to resolve conflict and assist with conflict management since violent conflicts are threats to elections and democracy.”
The communique charged journalists to sensitise citizens on IPC’s iVerify platform being a useful technology-driven system to combat electoral information disorder.
“Share the knowledge and skills gained from the workshop with other colleagues so that collectively they can provide reliable electoral information for the citizens.”, the communique added.
