By Samson Adeyanju Uwala
A Communication expert Gordons Adam has advised journalists to always ensure accuracy and balance in their reports.
Adams gave the advice at a seminar on “Reporting Conflict Sensitivity” held at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos during the week.
As the gatekeepers of information, he said journalists should be conscious of the need not to mislead the public.
In reporting conflicts within the society, the expert said journalists must do their job professionally and keep themselves safe.
” The conflict doesn’t have to be a violent one, as it may be a clash of ideas or ideologies, a disagreement about policies or principles, or an argument about the distribution if resources.
“Often, however, journalists do report on violent conflicts, on war and murder, and on deeply violent irregularities and injustices, the suppression of rights, and the oppression of individuals,” Adam noted.
According to him, there are many unresolved violent conflicts which have to be properly reported by journalists.
A journalist, Klem Ofuokwu, also advised upcoming journalists to report objectively to avoid encouraging violence between warring parties involved in any issue.
According to him, violence is about actions, words, attitudes, structures or system which cause physical, physiological, social or environmental damage and prevent individuals from reaching their full human potential.
He said a conflict sensitive reporter should be careful of the choice of words, pictures, sound bites, contexts, sources, tone, which are used in filing a report.
He noted that conflicts can end if measures are put in place to find possible solutions which includes compromise, finding a common ground, withdrawal and victory by one of the parties.
