MRA trains journalists on use of FOI Act

Journalists have been tasked to always embark on investigative journalism for the good of Nigeria and its citizens.

They received the charge during a two-day workshop for journalists on using the Freedom of Information Act 2011, for Investigative reporting.

The training held in Enugu, Enugu State for twenty-six (26) participants from the broadcast, Print and online media platforms from different states across south-east and south-south geo-political zones was organised by Media Rights Agenda under the collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusion and Accountability (CMEDIA) and sponsored by MacArthur foundation through Woke Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Stating the objective of the workshop, the Executive Director of Media Right Agenda Mr. Edetaen Ojo, said the essence of the training was to encourage journalists and media practitioners on FOI Act usage in their reporting. According to him, from assessment, the media has not used the FOI Act sufficiently or adequately.

He then encouraged Journalists to engage more in investigative journalism for good governance and Accountability in government and public institutions.

Mr Ojo also urged the participants to start making requests using the FOI Act. According to him, the action will help the citizens to understand what their leaders are doing in the office and the degree to which they are representing their interests and contributing to creating an improved environment for all Nigerians.

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“The major motivation for us is that we struggled for about 12 years ago to get the bill passed into law because we understood its importance not just for Journalists but for an active citizenry but we are so disappointed that twelve years after the law was passed, we have not seen the kind usage of the law that motivated us. So we hope that we will see so,” he said.

The participants on their part, acknowledged that the usage of the FOI Act by journalists and the media, in general, has been less than optimal given its potential benefits to the media sector in seeking and obtaining information and pledged to use the Act more regularly and frequently in their reporting to ensure good governance even as they noted other avenues, such as investigative reporting funds and grants, should be established and made widely available to support journalists conducting investigative reporting.

They also added that journalists across Nigeria, but most notably in the southeast, are witnessing frequent misuse of various laws, particularly the Cybercrimes Act, leading to their harassment by law enforcement agents and government officials, appealed that such laws be amended to include safeguards against their abuse even as they promised to sensitized their colleagues about the existence of such laws, the dangers they pose to journalism practice as well as measures that journalists and other media practitioners can take to avoid becoming victims of such laws.

They further advocate that laws should be put in place to protect journalists from being compelled to disclose their confidential sources of information and to protect journalistic materials and equipment in order for journalists and other media workers to effectively perform their duties and functions imposed on the media by Section 22 of the Constitution.

The participants however expressed gratitude to Media Rights Agenda for organizing the workshop and giving them the opportunity to participate in it. They also expressed their appreciation to the sponsors of the workshop, namely: the MacArthur Foundation and Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Highlight of the workshop consisted of plenary presentations, brainstorming and break-out sessions during which different topics were addressed, including: an Overview and Elements of Investigative Reporting; The Role of Records and Documents in Investigative Reporting; Understanding the Freedom of Information Act, 2011; The FOI Act and Investigative Reporting; and How Journalists and the Media Can Use the FOI Act.

Other topics treated are: Fact-checking and Investigative Reporting; Making Requests for Information Under the Freedom of Information Act; Deciding What Investigative Reports to Carry Out; Interviews in Investigative Reporting; and How to Present Stories from Investigative Reporting.

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