Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times and Founder of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has stressed the need for media independence and accountability reporting.
The media tycoon stated this Friday, while delivering his keynote address, at the media conference themed: ‘Amplify In-Depth Media Conference’ organized by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) with 17 other media partners. Olorunyomi noted that accountability reporting is the media practice that directly makes an impact on society.
He further called on the media houses to fact-check content before publishing as only this distinguishes trained journalists from other non-journalistic writers.
“Any claim we make in journalism, we must verify it,” he said, arguing that fact-checking is inevitable in journalism.
According to the keynote speaker, the central context of journalism accountability which is essential to democracy, “democracy cannot exist where accountability journalism does not.”
On his part, Professor Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere (FUK), emphasised that editorial independence cannot be separated from the financial independence of the media house.
Wole Soyinka Centre Extols WikkiTimes for Grassroot Investigative Reporting
Pate argued that students in higher institutions should be adequately trained to acquire practical and ethical aspects of journalism as well as rudiment to diversifying approaches for income to become financially independent.
“That is why we have Media Economics and Management as a course in universities,” Pate said.
The two-day hybrid event which was held on December 8 and 9 in Abuja revolves around how policies, ownership structure, technology and sustainability shape the landscape and functionality of independent media in performing their vital role to deliver diverse, credible and impartial information to the public.
On its first day, the conference provided a platform that discussed, shared knowledge and network on ways to amplify investigative reporting in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
The conference also includes the public presentation of the 2023 Wole Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) to recognise 11 finalists who excelled in investigative reporting.
In their joint opening remark earlier, Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ and Deji Adekunle, Program Director Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) noted that the partners that organised the event were the 17 media outfits constitute the Media and Journalism (MAJ) cohort of the MacArthur Foundation’s on Nigeria Project include Bayero University, Kano; the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR); and Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (NAMIP).
Others include Wadata Media & Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), Daily Trust Foundation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), HumAngle Media, Tiger Eye Foundation, Daria Media, PRIMORG, and Civic Media Lab.
Among the 40 speakers at the event include; Yemisi Bamgbose, Executive Secretary of Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON); Toyin Akinniyi, Vice President, Africa, Luminate Group; Franca Aiyetan, Spokesperson, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
