IPC Trains Imo Journalists on Factchecking, Developmental Journalism, use of iVerify platforms …Task them to be More Proactive

By ThankGod Emeh…

Imo journalists numbering twenty seven (27) captured across broadcast, print and New-media media platforms operating in the state are charged to be alive to their professional and constitutional duties as watchdog of society by fact-checking all information put out for public consumption.

The International Press Centre, IPC in partnership with United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) as well as notable stakeholders in Journalism profession in Nigeria and across boards gave the charge in a two-day training organized for Imo journalists at Echelon Heights Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on November 2-3, 2023.

The training which centred on the need to fact-check reports to eliminate fake news, disinformation and misinformation by using iverify platforms among other technological innovation tools was the third in serial training for about eighty (80) journalists from Imo Bayelsa, Kogi altogether.

The workshop according to the organizers was aimed at ethically and professionally equipping the media practitioners on not breaking and sharing viral contents in form of news items especially as it concerns claims and statements of politicians among others in the build up of November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.

Addressing Imo journalists at the capacity-building workshop, the Programme Manager, Mrs Stella Nwofia noted that the training is to duly equip journalists monitoring the electoral processes in three states off-cycle polls during and after the elections.

Mrs Stella Nwofia

Mrs Nwofia emphasized that the training was germane to ensure a credible, transparent, and peaceful guber election in the states while acknowledging the role and significance of journalists in the electoral process as well as their daily engagements across beats.

Training Imo journalists on the “Art of Questioning in Journalism and Being Detectives of Misinformation”, a renowned journalist and Director of Journalism Clinic in Nigeria, Mr Taiwo Obe emphasized that “business journalism is to find answers to questions and to question those answers until there are no further questions to be asked”,  hence the need to keep fact-checking, investigating and reporting the outcome, while noting that “reporting is the soul of journalism.

Mr. Taiwo Obe

Mr Obe further charged the journalists to be proactive in their reportage, stressing that media environment requires all reporters and editors to be detectives of misinformation and being fully prepared to debunk falsehood without amplifying them.

He said high quality journalism is an antidote for misinformation and disinformation, stressing that “if something affects one’s memory, it affects one’s reasoning and decision-making”

Going more practical about the training, a renowned factchecker, Mr David Ajikobi, while lecturing on “Fact-checking information to promote electoral integrity” dwelt on the systematic process of fact-checking, and use of fact-checking platforms such as Africa Check among others.

Mr Ajikobi

Mr Ajikobi added that fact-checking involves thorough and painstaking research, writing down facts in news copies, sub-editing in newsrooms before pushing out news items, articles on newspapers, radio, Television and new media platforms.

He however distinguished that independent fact-checking by Factchecking organizations such as Africa Check involves verifying information already in the public domain to assess the accuracy of claims or statements made by public figures, organizations, the media with publicly available data.

Adding his voice, the Director, Conflict Prevention Management and Resolution, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Emmanuel Mamman outlined the dangers of information disorder adding that misinformation and disinformation mars the development of every society hence the need to verify or fact-check every information.

Mr Mamman however charged Imo journalists to place premium on peace reports adding that that it contributes to peacebuilding, noting that without peace, there cannot be development and vice versa.

Speaking also, the Team Lead of Governance, Peace and Security with UNDP and IPC, highlighted the primary goal of reducing misinformation, disinformation, fake news and hate speech around every election time especially the fast approaching off-cycle elections.

Introducing Imo journalists to the Iverify platform, a foremost independent fact-checking platform in Nigeria alongside Africa Check, the Executive Director of IPC in Nigeria, Mr Lanre Arogundade harped on the need to embrace and adequately utilize the opportunity as well as the platform to ensure accuracy and zero lapses in reportage.

Mr. Arogundade

Mr Arogundade stressed that the iVerify Nigeria team is open to fact-checking all reports of interest submitted on their website, adding that the objective of the platform is to eliminate information disorder and promote impartiality and professionalism.

The participants who were divided into four groups namely, the Eagles, Stringers, Integrity, and Unique, engaged in notable fact-checking tasks using various fact-checking tools opened to them at the training with loads of thorough guidance, motivational cash prizes and recommendations from the organizers.

In the foregoing, the participants thanked the organizers of the programme for such a rich packaged training while the Organizers expressed satifisfaction with the participants’ performance.

The high points of the capacity-building workshop for Imo journalists were interactive sessions, individual and group practical assignments and presentation sessions, networking among participants and resource persons as well as photoshoot moments.

More  pictures below…