Media Code Engenders Professional Reporting Of Nigerian Electoral Processes – IPC

Posted by Eric Ojo Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Friday, October 14th, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Ahead of the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria, the International Press Centre (IPC), has said that the Media Code of Election Coverage has been instrumental in engendering professional reporting of the Nigerian electoral processes.

The IPC noted that the update of the code which in 2018, was endorsed by all the major media professional bodies and associations in Nigeria, as well as over 200 media organisations, harmonised with the specific objective of ensuring that, “The media, including New and Social Media, provides fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of the electoral process”.

This is coming as the IPC, implementing partners with the Institute for Media and Society (IMS) under component 4 (Support to media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria-Phase 2 (EUSDGN II) project is holding a one-day stakeholders’ meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to review the code.

The roundtable is one of the activities aimed at fulfilling the objectives of Component 4 (Support to media) of the EUSDGN II project, being implemented by IPC in partnership with the IMS.

In a statement made available to the media today, the IPC noted that the meeting is being convened in line with the overall goal of the media component under EU-SDGNII which is aimed at strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

“In order to support the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria with the media (broadcast, print and online media) helping to facilitate the key ingredient of credible elections through engagement and professionalism in coverage and reportage of the electoral processes, the EUSDGN has championed the development and dissemination of the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage as an industry-driven self-regulatory guideline for election reporting since 2015”, the statement said.

Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said ahead of the 2023 elections, it has become imperative not only to update and re-produce the code, in line with the overall goal of the media component of EUSDGN II, but to additionally deliberate on enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance by journalists and media institutions.

Mr. Arogundade also added that following the review, the code will be re-published and widely distributed with availability in many more online media, to broaden the scope of distribution beyond their milestone that was achieved in 2018.

He also said that IPC expects the reviewed and updated code to provoke further stakeholders’ commitment to create an enabling atmosphere for hitch-free coverage of their activities.

Participating in the review meeting are representatives of media umbrella professional bodies/associations, CSOs, Academia, Journalists, government, EMBs, and CSOs.