Media organisations have been challenged to develop policies that will protect their reporters covering conflict and other sensitive issues across the country.
Aftica Director MacAuthur Foundation Dr Kole Shettima gave the charge at a three-day review meeting and workshop on Investigative journalism for anti corruption and accountability using local languages in Abuja.
Dr Shettima observed that most media houses in the country hardly make provision for insurance cover for journalists in the frontline.
He identified legal representation and insurance for journalists as critical in minimizing some of the risk they face in the course of their duties.
“From our own perspective, we have been pushing and arguing on how to get that happen either through the Guild of editors or Nigeria Union of Journalists” he stressed.
The Africa Director MacAuthur Foundation charged journalists to focus their reportage on critical areas that will improve lives of the downtrodden and vulnerable people in the society.
Project Manager Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre WAMAC Alhaji Zubair Abdulra’uf organisers of the workshop said the media has the responsibility of holding leaders accountable as provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, the review meeting was organised to appraise performance of partner media houses on successes and challenges encountered in the country anti corruption programme.
Alhaji Zubair Abdulra’uf charged journalists to be more resilient and continue to promote accountability in their News and programmes for betterment of the society.
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