Blessing Osambor reports on the panel discussion on challenges journalists have to cope with in the digital era.
Are journalists reporting better stories in the digital space? Is it easier for journalists to have more access to information because of the internet? What is the digital era’s impact on freedom of expression?
These and many more questions were responded to by experienced panellists and participants at a panel discussion on the topic, “Journalism Under Digital Siege” which was part of the month-long programme organised by Media Career Development Network and supported by the US Consulate General, to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day on May 24th, 2022.
The session, which had its discussion centered on three pillars – digital era’s impact on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists and access to information and privacy; had four panelists and a Moderator.
According to one of the panellists, Dr Tunde Akanni; Director, Digital Media Research Centre, Lagos State University, the internet has come a long way to make research more interesting but some of the sources are not reliable.
He noted that, while the traditional ideal of journalism was for reporters to serve as independent sources, and attempt to deliver the news in a fact-based, objective manner, journalists need to be skilled enough and be very smart to get the information they want.
Akanni however added that though this tradition remains intact in traditional media platforms, increased access to technologies has led to the proliferation of citizen and activist journalists who openly have a bias or point of view, but still attempt to promote their perspective through a lens that includes fair framing, editing, and reporting.
While the discussion got heated about Citizens Journalists, the Moderator, Wemimo Adewuni, Broadcast Journalist; Nigeria Info, Lagos, proposed a motion – what name should be given citizens journalists: netizens or informants?
The forum which had various media practitioners at different levels and from different organisations deliberated passionately and eventually agreed on a suitable name for citizens journalists as – ‘informant’.
On getting accurate information and facts from sources, Adesola Ayo-Aderele; Ex – Online Editor, The Punch, maintained that Journalists must be very smart and dogged in getting information and facts from both willing and unwilling sources to make up their reports, adding that, although, there are enough information at journalists disposal, they are hard to gather.
“As a journalist, there are enough information to lay hands on but they are elusive. You must be smart in getting your information. If you talk to a source, whether they respond or not, it is news”, she stated.
Explaining the rights of journalists to get access to information from the government, Kunle Sanyaolu; Editorial Page Editor, The Guardian, quoted Section 22, Chapter 2, of the 1999 Constitution, “the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people”.
According to him, “Government officials do not like to give information and the reason is that they engage in shady deals, they have skeletons in their cupboards. Journalists should make government accountable for all their actions according to the directives of the constitution”.
Sanyaolu urged Journalists to leverage on their rights, noting that “getting information from the government is a-never-ending struggle for Journalists but they must insist on their rights to information and demand for it authoritatively”.
He therefore noted that Journalists must be tactical in getting information from the government and must find a way to balance the government reluctance with their own traditional responsibility constitutionally assigned to them.
Stephen Ibelli, The Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate, Lagos in his welcome address acknowledged Nigerian journalists for all the risks they take to bring the news to the people.
He stated that the US government is committed to supporting initiatives of media houses in Nigeria, and therefore urged Nigerian journalists to stay true to the Journalism ethics.
