Media professionals tasked with ending terrorism in Nigeria
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
A two-day workshop has ended in Umuahia, Abia State, with a call on the media to ensure that their reportage was tailored to ending the prevailing insecurity in the country.
This is as resource persons at the workshop revealed that media reports embolden terrorist to continue in their nefarious activities of maiming destruction and killing.
The theme of the workshop organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), in collaboration with Forte and Heinz Limited, was “the Role of the Media in Combating Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Nigeria.”
The workshop held on Wednesday, November 3 and Thursday, November 4, 2021, gathered journalists from the South East zone.
Resource persons said researches have revealed that media reports on the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in the United States of America in 2001 encouraged terrorist to intensify the nefarious activities; while continuous reportage of terrorism have led to accusations against the media of being the oxygen of terrorism.
NPC, in organizing the workshop, disclosed that the Council was concerned about the way the Nigerian media was reporting terrorism in the country.
Welcoming the participants, the Executive Secretary of NPC, Mr. Francis N. Nwosu, explained that the workshop was aimed at enhancing the instrumentality and capacity of media professionals on how to report terrorism, especially in a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria and to seek how the media could report on how the activities of terrorists could be mitigated.
Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, who declared the workshop open, charged media professionals to ensure that their reportage helped in building Nigeria rather than tearing it down.
“Journalists must see themselves as the chief marketers of our dear country, Nigeria, and ensure that their reportage are anabolic and not catabolic. Theirs is a very sensitive job as they are responsible for the actions of the many Nigerians who rely on them to stay informed,” Chikamnayo said.
In a 14-point communiqué’ issued at the end of the workshop, the participants agreed that the Media has a crucial role to play in combating violent extremism and terrorism in the country through their reportage and enjoined media professionals to be guided by the ethics of the profession by presenting balanced, unbiased and factual news reports and analysis, devoid of sensationalism and stereotyping to be able to help in ending terrorism in Nigeria.
