Media
By Anthony isibor.
AKIN Akingbulu, Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society, IMS, says that there is a need to deepen media commitment in order to ensure professional coverage of the electoral process in the country.
Akingbulu, who made this known at the strategic interactive meeting with media executives and online publishers in Lagos on Thursday, November 25, 2021, said that the meeting with media experts became necessary to address the important role of media professionals in the success of any electoral process.
He noted that free, fair and credible elections, which are central to the growth of democracy will not be possible for Election Management Bodies, EMB, without the help of other institutions like the media.
He also said that the media in Nigeria have been performing these roles very creditably and urged them to continue to do so and to deepen its commitment.
“The work on strengthening media professionalism has focused on monitoring media content (specifically content of broadcast media), training of various categories of journalists and other media professionals, publication and dissemination of resource materials, among others.
“Honourable Chairman, Distinguished Ladies, and Gentlemen, as we are all aware, the media is one of the crucial institutions with important roles to play in the electoral process. Indeed, the roles of the media are so important that they are indispensable in the proper conduct of an electoral process and in the broader functioning of a democracy. We often talk of the “watchdog” role of the media, which refers to the unfettered scrutiny of activities/performances of governance or public institutions and helping to bring them to account.
“The assumption is that the EMB will do all that it is statutorily asked to do and that other institutions will play roles which will produce the desired overall result which citizens refer to as free, fair, and credible elections.
“For many years, we have been working on media and democracy issues. Then, about four years ago, we expanded the work under the project, European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, EU-SDGN, which focuses is the reinforcement of democracy in Nigeria.
He explained that the work seeks to deliver through four result areas, which are; strengthening media professionalism, Enhancing and deepening the delivery and diversification of civic and voter education, Strengthening the capacity of the (broadcast industry) regulator, and Promoting media engagement to improve the participation of marginalized groups in politics.
“Interestingly, the desire to have a deepened media commitment and the provision of fair, accurate and professional coverage of the electoral process propels our work.
“Our work in the project is within its Support to the Media Component which has a very important objective: that the media provide fair, accurate and ethical coverage of the electoral process.
“To enhance the delivery and diversification of civic and voter education, our work has included training activities, production and dissemination of voter education materials,” he said.
A wide range of activities has also been implemented on promoting media engagement of political participation of marginalized groups- women, youths and people with disabilities, PWDs.
“Among these activities are training, public sensitization programs on radio and television, development/production, and dissemination of resource materials, among others.
“Engagement of the reform of legislation, National Broadcasting Commission Act, capacity-building for staff of the regulatory body and strengthening regulator-industry dialogue have been the thrust of the work with the regulatory body.
“We have also been active in the engagement of constitutional and legislative reform processes which affect our sector. For example, we submitted memoranda to the National Assembly on the review of media-related provisions in the Constitution and the Electoral Bill and amendment process of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Act.
Akingbulu, also listed other roles for the media, including:
a. Educating voters on how to exercise their democratic rights such as making informed decisions in the voting process
b. Conducting advocacy such as the process of electoral reforms e.g. the making of electoral legislation.
c. Providing reportage on election campaigns
d. Providing platforms for political parties and candidates to communicate with the electorate.
e. Providing the platform for citizens to communicate their opinions and concerns to other election actors such as the EMB, parties, government and other voters.
He thanked INEC and IPC for collaborating with IMS to make the event happen, and implore all to seriously engage the strategic engagement.
– Nov. 25, 2021 @ 18:08 GMT /
A.I
Tags: Akin Akingbulu. Institute for Media and Society
