By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
A Non-Governmental Organization, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), has charged media owners and managers to be more responsive to the welfare and interests of journalists working in their establishments.
This case was made in a communique adopted at the end of a Two-Day Media Workshop organized by MRA for journalists in the South East and South South geo-political zones.
The workshop on Laws Affecting the Media and the Safety of Journalists in Nigeria, was held on Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12, 2024 at the Bridge Waters Hotel, Enugu.
The communique stated that media establishments should provide appropriate support and assistance whenever journalists are threatened or attacked in the course of their duty.
Organisers and participants at the workshop
Media organizations were also urged to equip journalists with extensive trainings, tools, and adequate resources to safeguard their digital assets and reduce their vulnerability to cyber-attacks.
The statement also condemned the increasing attacks on journalists, including harassment, intimidation, physical violence, unlawful arrests and detention which are being carried out by government officials and others.
According to the statement, these attacks constitute a violation of media freedom and the rights of journalists.
“Media owners and managers should be more responsive to the needs, welfare and interests of journalists working in their respective media establishments by giving them appropriate support and assistance whenever the journalists are threatened or attacked in the course of or as a result of their work, including in cases where legal assistance is required.
Executive Director of the Media Rights Agenda, Mr Edetaen Ojo presenting certificate of participation to Rita Enemuru of Stonix News
“Media Organisations must equip journalists in their employment, particularly those who have been targeted for their work as well as those who are facing threats or who are likely to be targeted as a result of the sensitive nature of their work, with appropriate and comprehensive training, tools, and adequate resources to safeguard their digital assets and reduce their vulnerability to cyber-attacks,” it stated.
The Workshop
The workshop, organized for 30 journalists from different print, broadcast and online media, was organized by MRA with support from the MacArthur Foundation through the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion and Accountability (CMEDIA) project.
The workshop was divided into various parts where participants worked on practical tasks and plenary sessions with presentations and discussions.
Executive Director of the Media Rights Agenda, Mr Edetaen Ojo with Rita Enemuru of Stonix News
The Executive Director of the Media Rights Agenda, Mr Edetaen Ojo, took the participating journalists on a range of laws affecting the media during the course of the training.
He enlightened the journalists on the current legal framework governing the media in Nigeria and also offered practical guidance in ensuring compliance with media-related laws.
Furthermore, he advised the participants to seek support from organisations like the Joint Civic Defense Fund, Media Rights Agenda among others whenever they are facing litigations and challenges with the law.
Also, the Legal Officer of MRA, Monday Arunsi, spoke extensively on laws like the Broadcasting Act (1992), Child Right Act, Cybercrime Act, Official Secret Act, Defamatory and Offensive Publication Act and how they restrict media practice in Nigeria.
In addition, the Programme Officer, Esther Adeniyi, in her lecture on Digital Security and Digital Threats to Practice, advised journalists to always protect their devices against scammers and hackers.
Participating journalists undergoing the workshop
The participants commended the Media Rights Agenda and the sponsors for the training.
One of the participants, Mr Chinagorum Ugwu, a reporter with Premium Times, said that the training came at the right time when journalists are becoming subjects of attack.”
He said: “I appreciate the Media Rights Agenda and the sponsor of this workshop. This training came at the right time where journalists are becoming subjects of attack; so we need this kind of knowledge to arm ourselves against these attacks.”
Another reporter, Lovina Emole of Daily Post, added: “I deeply appreciate Mr Edetaen Ojo and his excellent team for the training.
“It was very impactful and rewarding, may God bless you, the sponsors of the programme and my dear colleagues I met at the workshop.”
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