Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the Nigerian media to adopt the use of investigative journalism to hold the government accountable to the people.
This, he said in Abuja at the Editorial Conference on Legal and Ethical Issues in Investigative Reporting in Nigeria, organized by the Daily Trust Foundation, the centre for Media Law and Development and the MacArthur Foundation in Abuja.
Osinbajo who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande said that the media by the virtue of its roles and functions was a veritable avenue to keep the government alive to its responsibility.
“We are living in the interesting time. The free press has arrived at its best time. Everyone of us can have access to our own media. This is the age of social and fake news can spread like wild fire. The press can make government more accountable through investigative journalism.”
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Osinbajo noted that with self-regulation, media practitioners can check fake news and address the failings of news reporting.
“We should be careful of over regulation of the media. Self-regulation is the best mode of regulating the media. If this is enough, we would have less or no government regulation.
“The media should set for itself an ethical benchmark, by appointing an ombudsman that would be paid by the media organisations and not by the government.
“This would help the media to hold itself accountable and ensure fair reporting. With self regulation, media practitioners can check fake news and address the failings of news reporting.”
Osinbajo lamented that the act of investigative journalism had been sacrificed on the altar of news reporting.
He also noted that the resurgence of investigative journalism become more important with the spate of fake news during the last general elections.
According to him, the media no longer crosscheck claims and facts as presented by individuals, meaning investigative journalism have been relegated to the background.
“Journalists should strive to abide by their code of ethics, unless, no investigative journalism in whatever form can thrive. However, investigative journalism should be careful not to go contrary to the laws of the land.”
He said Nigeria needed more investigative journalists who would speak truth to power without fear or favour and expose corruption and wrongdoings in government.
The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu; his counter-part in the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria, BON, Godfrey Ohuabunwa, Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation, Mallam Wada Maida; Mr. Femi Falana; Mr. Kole Shettima, Director (Africa) MacArthur Foundation; Mr, Mannir Dan-Ali, Chief Executive Officer, Daily Trust and Mr. Charles Odenigbo, Director General, Centre for Media Law and Development, among others also tasked Journalists on the accuracy of their reportage.
Yetunde Adegoke
