WSCIJ centers 2024 Civic Space Guard Conference on free press, civic
The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) says it is setting a debate platform for imminent discussions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), free press, civic space and the future of investigative journalism.
Executive Director/CEO, Motunrayo Alaka, stated in a media release that the planned discussions would form the central focus of the center’s 2024 Civic Space Guard Conference scheduled to hold in Abuja.
According to her, conformed speakers at the planned event include the Force Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and many other listed discussants.
The two panel sessions planned for the event, Mrs Alaka said, will explore how investigative journalism can thrive in an AI-driven age, address the pressing need to safeguard press freedom, uphold democratic values, and ensure the ethical use of information while holding power to account.
The launch of WSCIJ’s 2023 media monitoring report, a sequel to the 2022 edition – Hushed voices and the media’s defence of the civic space will also hold at the event.
She said the initiative is part of the ‘Leveraging the power of the media to fortify the civic space and tackle malinformation’ programme, implemented by the WSCIJ in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and supported by the Netherlands Embassy.
“It highlights the media’s critical role in safeguarding democratic freedoms. The programme reinforces the media’s vital function as an independent guardian of civic space through public dialogues, media monitoring, and recognition of journalists who bravely expose impunity and defend fundamental human rights.
“This conference is open to investigative journalists, media executives, news managers, human rights activists, legal professionals, tech innovators, security personnel, civil society groups, and government representatives,” Mrs Alaka stated.
