Veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, yesterday, charged the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) to tackle dissemination of inaccurate reports.
Osoba charged the centre to do so through greater investment in investigative journalism.
The Tide’s source reports that Osoba spoke at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Report Women Programme, an initiative of the WSCIJ.
The event featured public presentation of the Report Women Experts Source Guide by WSCIJ.
Osoba said that dissemination of fake news had caused much harm to Nigeria’s journalism industry and the entire country.
He praised WSCIJ for its giant strides in investigative journalism, adding that the Report Women Programme had done much to promote gender parity.
The President of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Eze Anaba, said at the occasion that narratives shared through media played a crucial role in shaping public perception and influencing policy.
“Yet, we know that the portrayal of women often falls short, reinforcing stereotypes and neglecting the myriad contributions they make to our society.
“The media holds tremendous power. It is a mirror reflecting our society and, at the same time, a tool that can mould our collective consciousness.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that this tool is wielded with care, fairness and inclusivity.
“When we commit to reporting on women not as mere subjects but as leaders, innovators and change-makers, we pave the way for a more equitable future,” he said.
Anaba was represented by the NGE Vice-President, South-West, Dr Kabir Garba.
The Head of Editorial Operations of NAN, Lagos Office, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, urged the WSCIJ to do more to amplify voices of more women whose stories would encourage girls to break barriers.
Omowole was represented by Mrs Ijeoma Popoola, the Head of Lagos Metropolitan Desk of NAN.
She urged adequate training of journalists to effectively amplify women’s voices.
According to Omowole, some women with inspiring stories are reluctant to tell the stories to journalists for fear of being misquoted or misjudged, while others are shy.
She said that such women would need confidence of well-trained journalists to open up.
Mrs Motunrayo Alaka, the Chief Executive Officer of WSCIJ, said that there was a gap between men and women in newsrooms across Nigeria.
“Men overwhelmingly lead newsrooms and dominate the news coverage, particularly in key sectors such as politics, power, extractive, business and governance.
“Women’s voices are side-lined, under-represented or confined to issues considered ‘soft’.
“In response to this gap, the Report Women Experts Source Guide we launch today is a strategic intervention.
“It is a resource that connects reporters and editors to a diverse pool of female experts across fields ranging from economics and finance to governance and politics, to security and more,” she said.
Alaka said that the guide was aimed at eliminating the excuse that ‘there are no qualified women to interview’.