The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Mr Francis Nwosu, has urged media practitioners to be objective and promote national unity in their reportage of the forthcoming 2023 general election in the country.
The NPC boss gave the charge at the just concluded workshop on “Effective Coverage and Reportage of 2023 General Elections” organised by the NPC in collaboration with the AVEESGA International Limited in Asaba, Delta State.
The two-day workshop attracted journalists from the six states in the South South.
Mr Nwosu urged journalists to observe the universal principles of objectivity, accuracy and fairness in their reportage of the 2023 general elections in the country.
He said journalists should resist the temptations of reporting inaccurate, misleading and biased stories capable of eroding public trust and confidence in the media.
According to him, factual, accurate, balanced and fair reporting is the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis of earning public trust and confidence.
In his own presentation, a university don, Dr. Ifeanyi Didiugwu of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, described objective reporting as a requisite for successful conduct of the 2023 general elections in the country.
He called on the media to promote objectivity in their reports as well as give all candidates and political parties a level playing ground to campaign, debate and present their manifestoes to the electorate.
Dr. Didiugwu also urged the media to avoid sensational journalism and play down on stories that could cause disaffection and national disunity in the country.
Another university don and Associate Professor of Mass Communication, Delta State University, Dr. Patrick Ijeh, called on the media to live up to their responsibility by informing and enlighten the public on their voting rights.
Speaking on “2023 Election: Expectation of the Media in Voter’s Education”, Dr. Ijeh said the media has the onerous responsibility to inform and educate the public accurately and objectively on their voting rights and on all issues that affect the country.
He also cautioned the media against promoting hate speech and publishing misleading reports, saying hate speech, inaccurate and subjective reporting have the potential of throwing the country into flame especially during election period.
Director, AVEESGA International Limited, Mr Emmanuel Ukaegbu, in his own presentation, cautioned journalists against publishing election results that have not been authenticated and announced by the electoral body.
He said that under the electoral law, it is the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) that has the rights to announce election results, using the media.
According to him, “it is wrong for the media to publish election results that have not been authenticated and announced by INEC. Any media who does that will be running foul of the electoral law.”

By: Boye Salau