Forum Wants Security For Reporters On Election Duty

A one day forum organised by Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Cosmopolitan in collaboration with Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State, has called for protection of news reporters on election duty.
The workshop tagged, “Conflict Resolution and Prevention” held at the State Secretariat of the NUJ in Port Harcourt recently also called for the need to use news reports to address potential conflict areas in the society.
President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Cosmopolitan, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, opined that journalists needed to be alert of hot bed in electoral conflicts as a way of securing their lives.
Speaking on the topic “How Do We Stay Safe When Reporting Conflict”, Mrs Semenitari warned that no story was worth a reporter’s life, as much as the actors are bent were in unleashing violence to newsmen.
She said, “If you are going to a war zone ensure you are protected. Report from a reasonable distance and remember that no story is worth your blood”.
Semenitari maintained that though the journalist played vital roles in resolving conflicts in society, she explained that covering sensitive issues such as election and war required fact, experience and carefulness.
She advised reporters to always double check and confirm their stories before publishing, noting that interviews and pictures must be duplicated for legal and security purposes.
On her part, News Editor of Wazobia/FM, Blessing Oluomo counselled journalists to make extra efforts in reporting events such that all those involved were well covered and represented.
Oluomo pointed out that words used in reporting a particular event can stir crisis hence caution must be exercised. Former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo, harped on the need for fact confirmation.
Ogolo maintained that reporters had both moral and legal obligations and urged against compromise in coverage of issues.
On his part, Chairman of the State NUJ, Stanley Job, described the workshop as timely, considering the ugly experience journalists had gone through while covering elections. The State NUJ chairman expressed hope that the workshop would arm journalists with information on how to cover conflict areas such as war and elections in the country.