A two-day Media Training Workshop for Journalists with the theme: Using the Freedom of Information Act ( FOI) for Investigative Reports on Campaign Finance and Covid-19 Accountability Issues, held between August 5 and 6 2020 in Lagos and tasked journalists on how to utilise the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, in probing sources of information from public institutions and ensuring a fair, balanced and accurate coverage of political and sundry issues in the country.
The workshop which was anchored by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Media Rights Agency (MRA) was under the auspices of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN).
Topical issues including; Understanding the key features of the Freedom of Information; The role of the media in ensuring good governance ; Understanding and reporting campaign finance and political expenditure frameworks and issues; Using investigative reporting techniques to monitor compliance with campaign finance and political expenditure regulations, featured in the presentations made by the experienced Resource persons.
At least 25 seasoned journalists from print, broadcast and online media from South West Nigeria were in attendance at the workshop which took place at Pearlworth Hotels, Lagos.
Resource persons at the event included Edetaen Ojo; Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA); Lanre Arogundade; Executive Director of the IPC, Dayo Aiyetan; Executive Director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR); Jide Ojo; Executive Director of OJA Development Consult and Investigative journalist, Tobore Ovuorie .
Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, harped on the need for the seasoned journalists attending the workshop to tap from the well of knowledge of the Resource persons on how to utilise the skills derivable from the application of the FOI Act to hold public officials and institutions accountable on issues of governance.
“It is in the above context that the programme for this workshop has been designed to examine some dimensions to the issue at stake including the role of the media in ensuring good governance, the understanding of the frameworks and issues in campaign finance and the best practices in investigating political and campaign finance issues,” he pointed out.
Arogundade also said that the workshop was designed to equip journalists with the required skills in highlighting issues of democratic accountability in order to check impunity in the electoral process and ensure that elected politicians are made to account for their campaign promises.
Executive Director of MRA, Edetaen Ojo explained the rudiments of the FOI Act and the need for journalists to apply the Act in sourcing and reporting stories as well as highlighting issues bordering on Transparency and Accountability in governance.
Executive Director of OJA Development Consult Mr. Jide Ojo, stressed the need for journalists to have electoral laws at their fingertips . This, he said, would put them in good stead in delving into issues of campaign finance.
He also cited the various laws governing electoral campaign financing.
Tobore Ovuorie was on hand to explain how investigative journalists can utilise the FOI Act to enhance their investigative skills and come out with balanced reports that will reflect the views of all sides.
The plenary session created room for story pitching and salient ideas were raised and debated on , as part of the ongoing process of highlighting issues of public importance and reporting such in a way that would reflect accountability and transparency in governance.
Segun Fatuase
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