UPDATED: LINA TV PARTNERS NIGER INEC, MEDIA MENTORS NETWORK IN SENSITIZING JOURNALIST AHEAD OF LGAs ELECTIONS
By Rilwan Musa Gawu
Lina Tv has partnered with the Niger state Independent National Electoral Commission, Media Mentors Network on a one day sensitization workshop to sensitizing Journalist, Media outlets and Media partners covering the 2025 Niger state Local government Elections scheduled for Saturday November first.
Lina tv made this known in a press release it made in it WhatsApp platform, stating that the aim of the one day sensitization workshop is to guide journalist and media practitioners on the activities of the Saturday elections and how to effectively cover the local government elections.
The workshop brought in journalist across media platforms across the state to the discuss the theme; empowering journalists and media professionals for ethical and peaceful Local Government Election Coverage.
Speaking as a guest lecturer, Pastor Dan Amasiegha a veteran journalist noted that the Nigeria election is a competitive elections even with the the ruling party as a dominant party, narrating that the ground has be prepared for a competitive elections with opposition parties making heated in the state.
Dan also advised Journalist to restrain from supporting openly a political party or slogans of political party, noting that journalist are to guide and shape voters while holding institutions accountable during the electioneering process which includes the security personnel, INEC staff, Political parties and voters as well.
He added that when journalist fail in their responsibility, journalist will be fueling violence, manner of report, amongst other reportage.
Dan advised journalist to provide balance reporting and also to go to units were oppositions are to speak for them during the polls, while asking the media practitioners to ensure compliance of the journalist organization standard to prevent, influence last minutes voters decision unlawfully, most uphold fairness at the elections process, verify before reviewing a report and avoid posting breaking news syndrome.
Furthermore, he added that journalist should ensure balancing in interviews as to avoid selections or bias, while urging journalist to prioritize peace rather than conflict and chaos in the society.
The key note speaker, Doctor Dantala Muhammed stated that journalists are saddled with the responsibilities of balance on the electoral process.
He highlighted that training and re training of electoral officers, securities as well as journalist to ensure proper processes of the elections, while adding that the inability of journalist releasing information secretly leads to journalist falling into problems.
Doctor Dantala advised that reporters should avoid strongly receiving bribe or favoritism during the elections, urging the reporter to be objective in writing his/her report even if it goes against his personal interest so as for the reporter’s report be credible and reliable for the people and the state at large.
Furthermore, Journalist are advised to ensure to have individual interviews with umpires (inec), political parties, candidates and also the voters to ensure back up proof for his/her reportage, while also suggesting that the report should be a defining moment for the voters who are expecting to get information from journalist.
Other Speakers, called on the media practitioners, as well as journalist to shun online media information as it could lead the journalist and media organization into problem, ensuring that result should be fact checked before spreading the report.
