2023 Polls: IPC Trains Media Monitors On Inclusive Coverage

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos over the weekend, trained media monitors to enhance their capacity and skills for inclusive coverage of the polls.

The two-day training was organised by IPC in partnership with the Institute for Media and Society (IMS), through Component 4 of the European Union– Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) Phase 2 project.

One of the overall goals of the component is to “Support the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria with the media (broadcast, print and online) by helping to facilitate the key rudiments of credible elections through engagement and professionalism in coverage and reportage of the electoral processes.”

The core objective of the project is targeted at exposing the media, including new and social media to provide fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of the election.

Other benefits of the training include accessing the level of compliance and understanding of professional ethics by the media monitors in line with the principles of media organisations.

The monitoring would be carried out within the context of the 'Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage', which spells out the responsibilities expected of journalists and other media professionals during elections.

Media election code was endorsed by media professional bodies and associations, as well as about 300 media organiations in 2018.

It enumerated the responsibilities of journalists and media owners in facilitating access to political parties and its candidates, disadvantaged groups including women, Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) and youths in order to avoid hate speech.

The training was facilitated by the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA) Mr. Edetaen Ojo and Project Manager of IPC, Mr. Sanmi Falobi.

They introduced the participants to the philosophical basis and technicalities involved in media monitoring, qualitative and quantitative indices, standards for assessing/analysing media reportage, and the coding system.

This is even as the monthly findings and outcomes of the monitoring would serve as instruments of engagement with journalists and media owners, to address the identified gaps and agree on measures for improvement.

Reacting, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said that given the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation especially by political actors, that IPC opened window of opportunities for the media to disseminate credible information before, during and after the 2023 elections.

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