Information Minister, Lai MOhammed
NPAN directs media organizations to float regulatory ombudsman
The Executive Council of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has at a meeting in Lagos directed all affiliate and sister organizations in the media industry to empanel an internal onbudsman mechanism for regulation of practitioners.
The meeting which held at the association’s secretariat was hosted to address the regulatory framework for media operatives within the respective member-organizations and the industry at large.
A statement by the President, Mr Kabiru Yusuf, gave a November 1 deadline for each member to empanel an Internal Ombudsman mechanism.
He said the directive came even as steps are being quickened to empanel at the industry level, a workable, quick and responsive system to address public complaints and concerns on mis-steps by the media and its operatives.
The internal Ombudsman is to ensure that the news organisation keeps to the canons of journalism practice and the code of ethics, mediate in conflicts stemming from internal or external pressures, keep news organisation honest and accountable to the public for news reported and ensure that the public’s right to know is protected.
In discharging its functions, the Internal Ombudsman is expected to work with the The Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) Code of Ethics, and the journalism canons of Fairness , Objectivity ,Balance , Accuracy and Completeness.
The Council also resolved to unfold global Ombudsman structure and modalities for the entire industry.
It reaffirms its commitment to responsible journalism, at all times.
