Information disorder: IPC trains 40 journalists on fact-check, FOI tools

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

In a bid to combat information disorder in democratic governance reporting using fact-checking and Freedom of Information tools, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos organised a two-day capacity-building training for 40 journalists selected from across the Southwest states.

Speaking at the workshop in Akure, the Executive Director, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade,  said that the major objective of the workshop was to ensure that journalists reported elections and electoral processes factually, and accurately and ensure they fact-checked all necessary information before publishing.

He also said that the training was to equip journalists on how to hold political leaders accountable after winning the  elections by verifying the implementation of their campaign promises.

” I think the first step for us is to ensure that we document all the campaign promises and after elections we also go back to them to say that you promise this and do you still stand by that promise? If they say they stand by those promises, then the next question will be how do you intend to carry it out.

“By the time the budget is presented, we need to check whether those things are in the budget, our duty is to constantly remind them and also go to the people and talk to them about the fulfilment of the promises or otherwise

“So it is just a question of persistence and continuously probing to ensure that they do not go away with.

“We owe a responsibility to the people and government needs to understand that, there is nothing we can do other than to continuously follow up until they are able to do exactly what they promise to do and to ensure that we as journalist do not get sold on propaganda and that is why it is important that we verify.”

Arogundade also said that the workshop would expose journalists

to fact-check tools which would enable them combat disinformation, misinformation, malinformation  in the society.

The IPC Executive Director, then called on professional bodies in the media, the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ),  Nigeria Guild of Editors, the Newspaper Proprietors  to always come to the aid of journalists, who constantly come under attack during the discharge of their duties.

 “We believe that if journalists are better, if journalism is better, society itself will be better, but we are not unmindful of the fact that we need enabling environment for us to practice good journalism,” he added.

Earlier, in her welcome address, IPC programme officer, Melody Akinjiyan, said the emergence of information disorder poses a grave threat to the foundation of democratic governance, thereby sowing seeds of doubt, division, and distrust.

Akinjiyan said the IPC  would strive to empower journalists to serve as guardians of truth, champions of integrity, and defenders of democracy. 

She said towards achieving this goals, comprehensive capacity building training will be held across various geo-political zones in the country to equip journalists with necessary tools, skills, and knowledge to navigate the complexities of the digital age responsibly and ethically.

Also speaking, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Martins Oloja, charged journalists on the need to learn data journalism.

Oloja said, ” what is not measurable cannot be addressed. If we begin to hold our leaders accountable by measuring through specific figures and facts what they are doing, is very good for development journalism.

“As a journalist, we should be able to measure problems.”

The workshop, is funded through component 4b: Support to the media of the EU-SDGN II project to build a professional media as catalyst of democratic accountability, credible elections and good governance.