By Rauf Oyewole
The Amnesty International Nigeria has called for safety of journalists and free press amidst intimidation, harassment, frivolous litigations against the media practitioners in the country.
Speaking during a two-day training session in Yola organised for practicing journalists in the North East, Dr. Aminu Mahmud, a legal practitioner, condemned the undue arrest and prosecution of journalists who hold power to account.
According to Mahmud, journalism is not a crime and should not be gagged, saying that free press guarantees democracy and power must be ready to open to check and balance.
Also speaking, Dr. Anne Agi of the University of Calabar, who spoke about ‘Reporting Through Gender Lens’ urging the practitioners to be gender responsive in crafting their narrative and avoid stereotypes that could put victims of violence into public ridicule.
Agi added that the media needed a more gender sensitive approach in dealing with issues with GBV and maintaining privacy of the affected person rather than exposing them to public danger. She said that the power of words could make or mar the career of the survivors.
Speaking on reporting under threats, Dr. John Omilabu urged journalists to be aware of situations around them before embarking on sensitive reports. According to him, situation awareness is key amid types of threats that hinder serious journalism.
“There are three types of threats in journalism –Physical, Digital and Phycology threats. There are journalists who have been physically injured, harassed, killed and their gadgets destroyed. There are those who have been subjected to digital threats like; surveillance and monitoring, doxxing, hacking and unauthorised access.
“Also, threats in digital space are phishing, disinformation, impersonation, censorship and content removal.
“We also have threats that are physiological which affects so many journalists. Many are dealing with this in silence.”
Speaking on reporting in conflict zones: ethics vs access, Dr. Kabir Danladi of the Department of Mass Communication, Ahmodu Bello University, Zaria, urged the journalists to; avoid embedding uncritically with armed groups; maintain independence and scepticism.
“Negotiate access that does not demand propaganda or staged events. Dealing with censorship and pressure. Document attempts at censorship or intimidation; use collective security (press associations, legal partners) when threatened.
Speaking on ‘Balancing Objectivity with Advocacy’, “Reporting on human rights violations often demands a moral stance that highlights injustices and calls for accountability. Ethical concerns arise in the verification of sensitive information. Sensationalism, biased narratives, and the risk of retraumatising victims.”
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