Media executives have expressed concerns about the lack of press freedom in the country and other factors hindering the media from adequately performing its roles.
They spoke on Wednesday, May 3 at a Twitter space organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day.
Present at the discussion were leading media practitioners and stakeholders who reflected on the 30th anniversary of Press Freedom Day and questioned the reality of a ‘free press’.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Editor of Daily Trust Newspaper, Stella Iyayi noted that under the present and the previous administration, there have been some incidents which stifled press freedom, including impounding of publications on grounds that they are inciting.
She recalled the incident during the Jonathan-led administration when Daily Trust Newspaper reported the occupation of Bama local government in Borno state by Boko Haram insurgents, which led to the raiding of the office of the newspaper by military men.
She said the raid was a flagrant disregard for the legal process as a way of registering the displeasure of the military.
“The constitution has empowered journalists to hold the government to account and to report within the limit of the law. The question is why the law is not taking its course when anyone feels his side of a matter has not been properly reported. Why do we continue to have unlawful arrests?” she asked.
She also expressed concerns about the financial burden of running lawsuits on operations of media practitioners by parties who take legal actions against media houses, not necessarily because of a false publication, but with a motive to kill the operations of such organisations.
The Executive Director of WSCIJ, Mrs Motunrayo Alaka stated that press freedom is critical and without it, there’s no guarantee of good government.
She hoped that there will be less interference in the operations of the media by the incoming government.
Alaka advised the press to live up to its duty and ensure accountability by the government, adding that reports published should be accurate, and correct attributions should be made to sources before publishing.
She spoke about the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development and Accountability Program established to support small organisations with a focus on local and state governments for accountability.
She further advised media organisations to cultivate the habit of taking legal actions against whoever infringes on press freedom and collaborating in their operations.
“We are always stronger together as journalists. Through unity, we can collaborate on the stories we are publishing. This will make filing a suit difficult against all who co-published a story. Collaboration can be multifaceted: sharing of resources and support for younger and smaller”.
Adeolu Adekola, Project Manager, Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ), in his contribution, said the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. According to him, it was crucial for the media to speak up and set the agenda.
Citing his experiences while working with other journalists across Africa, he noted that the issue of press freedom was also affecting media support organisations as it was becoming harder to train journalists across Africa due to lack of access. Following the democratisation of the media sector and the increase in citizens’ journalism, he urged media organisations to curb the spread of fake news and misinformation.
Amidat Joseph, a former National Assistant Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), noted that many media organisations were established for profit-making and as such, stories affecting their interests or sources of income were often frowned upon by media owners.
The Kaduna-based journalist urged WSCIJ to empower and collaborate with more small independent media organisations to hold the government to account.
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