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IPC, NPC release report on media coverage of 2015 elections for February 2015

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria and the Nigeria Press Council (NPC), have released the findings and outcome of the monitoring of the coverage and reportage of the 2015 elections for February 2015. The report covered 21 newspapers, namely  Daily Sun, The Nation, National Mirror, Vanguard, The Punch, ThisDay, Daily Independent, The Guardian, Nigerian Tribune, Daily Champion, Leadership, Daily Trust, Daily Star, Nigerian Observer, Nigerian Pilot, Abuja Inquirer, Peoples Daily, Blueprint and Desert Herald Additionally, four online media – The Tide, Cable News, Premium Times, Sahara Reporters – and three social media platforms – Enough-is-Enough, Reclaim Naija and INEC were monitored. The presentation was made at a press/tweet conference held on Thursday, March 19, 2015. Download full report

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Call for Applications for English Producers in West Africa

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Job Title: Journalist/Producer Job Type: Radio/Media Organization: West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) Location: Dakar – Senegal Contract: Fix term – 1 year renewable Salary: Commensurate with qualifications No. of Positions: 3 About WADR The West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) is a regional radio station based in Dakar, Senegal. The radio is a spin-off of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) established in 2003 to protect and defend the ideals of democratic and open societies by disseminating development information through a network of community radios in the West African sub-region. The WADR network is also comprised of private and public radio stations and a chain of correspondents in the region. The station broadcasts in French and English on 94.9 FM in Dakar and on streaming at www.wadr.org Job Description: WADR seeks candidates for full time English producer positions to work in its offices situated in Sacré-Coeur I, Dakar, Senegal Responsibilities: Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: • Reporting and editing and compiling daily news bulletins • Production of magazine programmes including generating and researching ideas, developing content, writing production scripts, bulletins as well as providing materials for the WADR website • Undertaking editing, interviewing and reporting duties as required • Presenting thematic programmes • Managing pre- recorded, recorded and live broadcast • Using technology such as Adobe Audition/cool Edit Pro software for editing Required Qualifications and Experience Candidates must have the following: • A Bachelors Degree in Journalism, Communication, political and social sciences, international relations or a related field with at least 3 years experience as a radio journalist/ producer or a diploma in the related fields with 6 – 10 years of experience as a radio journalist/producer • Digital editing skills with Adobe Editing soft ware • Working knowledge of current events and the ability to multi-task Bilingual in English and French is an advantage Attributes WADR is a radio station with a multi cultural setting, with staff drawn from the different West African countries with different cultural and traditional backgrounds, giving room for diversity of ideas, skills and competence. In this regard it would be an advantage to have the following attributes: • Excellent Communication skills • Good Analytical Skills with capacity to research and analyze major issues of concern in the region • At ease with multicultural differences • Be open minded and able to work in a team • Good human and interpersonal skills Interested candidates should send in a motivation letter plus CV with 2 references -an academic and professional reference and prepare a 5 minute radio programme by email to the following address: jobs@wadr.org Deadline: Saturday, March 20th 2015 at 6pm.

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Polls Must Be Free, Fair – Newspaper Owners

The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has insisted that the forthcoming general elections must hold as rescheduled and must be free, fair and credible. The elections had been earlier fixed for February 14 and 28 but were rescheduled for March 28 and April 11, respectively. This position was contained in a communique issued at the end an extra-ordinary meeting the association yesterday in Abuja. NPAN, according to the communique signed by its president, Nduka Obaigbena, arrived at the position after exhaustive deliberations and a review of the political situation in the country. “The general election must hold on March 28 and April 11 as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”, it said, adding that “the election must produce an outcome and Nigerians must rally around whoever emerges the winner.” The communique stated further that the elections are for and by the Nigerian people and they must be free, fair and held in such a way that they will deepen the nation’s democracy such that, at the end of the electoral process, Nigeria will be the winner. It described the prevalent do-or-die attitude to politicking as “unnecessary, unhelpful and unhealthy” to the nation’s democracy, and, therefore, called on Nigerians, especially political leaders across the nation, to eschew every form of violence before, during and after the election. Courtesy: The Sun

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2015 Polls: NBC descends on TV stations over hate broadcast

2015 polls: NBC descends on TV stations over hate broadcast The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) at the weekend came hard on television stations over hate broadcast saying some television stations in the country have jettison the broadcasting Code and other professional code of ethics and broadcasters were acting as judges or advocates for politicians. At the one-day Broadcast Stakeholders’ Meeting held at the Conference Hall of NICON Luxury Hotel Abuja on Tuesday it was observed that: A lot of damage has been done to the integrity of broadcasting by the recent conduct of some broadcast stations in political broadcast, most of the political discourse are not issue based and were attacks on personalities rather than scrutiny of the tract records of Candidates in relation to their campaign promises. Denial of access to opposition by broadcast stations, misinformation from the media provokes negative reactions and misdirects the society with severe consequences on national security. The communiqué issued at the one-day Broadcast Stakeholders’ Meeting reads: Political adverts must be backed by APCON approval. The broadcast stations to engage in more professional engagements with politicians, civil society organizations, institutions and agencies involved with elections. NBC should engage in careful and informed monitoring of the process to ensure that the conduct of each broadcaster is in public interest. NBC should act decisively against any broadcaster who breaches the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in political broadcast. NBC should engage in crisis management to avert the danger that negative broadcast is capable of causing. Broadcasters should resolve to build a truly democratic and united nation and disallow politicians from causing divisions. The role of the Media professionals at this point should promote, stabilize and add credibility to the democratic process by increasing citizen’s confidence, lower tension and legitimize the outcome. Broadcasters shall ensure the right of Citizens to quality, and credible information on candidates and other electoral processes. It was also agreed that the sacred document, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code should be followed strictly in the interest of political development in Nigeria. The motion for the adoption of the communiqué was moved by Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Saulawa, Managing Director, Nagarta Radio Kaduna and seconded by Ms. Uche Ubitube of Anambra service, Awka. The NBC Director General, Mr Emeka Mba told journalists in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday after the meeting with CEOs of broadcast organizations that the “commission had observed the breach by the two stations and letters have been written to them and a committee set up by the commission to look into the infraction would soon come up with appropriate sanctions which may be fine or suspension of license.” He confirmed that NBC received a lot of complaints and petitions across the country over the hate documentary and would follow due process in coming up with the sanctions. Dr Tom Adaba, a veteran broadcaster and a former National Broadcasting Commission (NBC’s) Director General, shortly after the tea break of a crucial meeting between the NBC and the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of broadcast organizations on the forthcoming elections said that the sanction was late in coming as the two stations ought to have been punished long ago. Earlier while giving his opening remarks, Mba had chastised CEOs of broadcast organizations for “mortgaging the broadcast industry.”He said some of them had jettisoned the Nigerian Broadcasting Codes and had resorted to unprofessional conducts. “We should stop doing things that can bring about violence. We should stick to the Nigerian Broadcasting Codes. Of recent, we have been inundated with calls, petitions and complaints about the kind of hate adverts run by some the stations in the last one month. Henceforth we will hold any station that flouts the codes responsible. We must stop all hate messages from now; if you don’t stop we are going to act. We would follow due process to revoke the license of any erring station; I can guarantee you that”, the NBC DG said. He also told the broadcasters that “politicians would do what they would do but you as broadcasters must not fall victims of their acts.”He said some programmes which were run by some unnamed stations had caused so much hatred that NBC needed to act fast. “We would act decisively against stations that attempt to spread hate messages”, he said. While condemning the TV stations, Dr Adaba, said the stations had sowed the seeds of hatred with the documentary and only God could save the country from violence. He said: “We should tell ourselves the truth: some stations have thrown away the broadcast ethics. I was wondering where we are heading to. Don’t stop to ask: what if the candidate they were trying to run down wins. If we sow seed of hatred, we will reap nothing but violence. If we sow the seed of peace, definitely we will reap peace. But unfortunately, it is broadcasters who are supposed to be spreading peace message that are now spreading hate messages. What we have had is so bad that one keep wondering if we have codes at all. These stations should have been punished long ago. But I will urge them to retrace their steps.” In a paper presented at the meeting, a renowned Mass Communication lecturer, Professor Umar Pate of the Bayero University Kano said Nigerians were losing confidence in the media and the practitioners needed to wake up to their responsibilities. He said people are usually worried when the media is not playing its functions. According to him, “watchdog is sick and we are all worried.” He said most Nigerians usually form their opinions on whom to vote for but some sections of the media are misleading them. Pro Pate said because of the trust ordinary people have in the media, practitioners should not tell them lies. “ Media is instilling fears in Nigerians because of elections. They are speculating on whether elections will hold or not; this is making most Nigerians to be apprehensive. This is compounded by the social media. Also, a renowned Mass Communication

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Apply for Mohamed Amin Africa Media Awards

Africa24 Media and MoSound Events today launched Mohamed Amin Africa Media Awards (MAAMAs) to celebrate the best of Africa’s TV content. The Awards, named after the legendary videographer and photographer, Mo Amin, will be accompanied by a training workshop for journalists from across the continent and is aimed at honing skills and trading the latest ideas on outstanding television production. Awards will be given in the following categories: BEST NEWSCAST BEST SPORTS CONTENT BEST USE OF VISUAL CONTENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA BEST MAGAZINE PROGRAM BEST CSR INITIATIVE PRESENTATION BEST MOBILE PHONE CONTENT FEATURING AFRICAN IMAGES MOST INNOVATIVE PROGRAM BEST DOCUMENTARY STUDENT AWARD: I AM AFRICA MAAMA’S BEHIND THE SCENES AWARD PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD (VOTED AMONG ALL CATEGORIES) Apply here.

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Scholarships for capacity-building workshop available for African journalists and communication lecturers

Fahamu’s Emerging Powers in Africa project will be conducting a three-day Journalist capacity building workshop in Nairobi. The workshop seeks to strengthen the voice of African media on investigating and reporting the impact that emerging actors (including China, India, Brazil, South Korea and Turkey) have on Africa’s external engagements and development landscape. Media professionals in print, broadcast, radio and online platforms as well as freelance reporters based in Africa are encouraged to apply for the workshop. Lecturers from journalism schools and media programmes in Africa may also apply. The organizer will cover airfare, accommodations, meals, local transportation and visa costs. The deadline to apply is February 20. Apply here.

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Grant available for literary reporting

The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University invites applications for the inaugural Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award, in honor of the late journalist who reported empathetically on the human condition and died on assignment in Uganda in March 2014. The winner will receive US$12,500, NYU ID and full online and onsite NYU Bobst Library research and reference privileges, as well as an office at the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, space allowing. The application deadline is February 16. Apply here.

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2015 Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists

The workshop is designed for early to mid-career journalists from all media with a strong interest in improving and expanding their coverage of environmental topics and a desire to gain a better understanding of scientific research through field and lab work. The Annual Workshop fellowship includes tuition, room, board, ground transportation, and travel support of up to US$500 paid after the completion of travel. International journalists traveling from outside the United States are eligible for up to US$1000 reimbursement for travel. Apply here

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Why female politicians deserve better coverage

The role of the media as campaign platform and public sphere during elections especially will not be discharged efficiently unless the right to equitable media access is enjoyed by all political actors regardless of their gender. In fact, section 1.2 of the newly released Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage (NMCEC) tasks media organisations to design a deliberate editorial policy that targets “under-represented groups, especially women, youths, persons living with disabilities and rural dwellers in the coverage of electoral processes.” The section goes further to underscore the need to “reflect the views and perspectives of women, youths, persons living with disabilities and rural dwellers in electoral reports.” And for the objective of this provision of the NMCEC to be realized as it concerns womenfolk especially, a two-day media engagement forum was held for female candidates from the South West, North, South-south and South-east on deepening understanding and improving the use of conventional and new/social media for campaigns and other electoral activities in Ibadan and Abuja recently… Continue reading  .

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2015 poll: IPC sensitizes journalists on media code

As part of bid to ensure violence free election come February, the International Press Centre on Tuesday organised a seminar (Tweet-a-thon) to sensitize journalists. The seventh tweet-a-thon themed: ‘Making use of Media Code of Election Coverage for Credible Reporting’, generated several tweets which reached 134,853 accounts, thereby making 173,975 impressions through hashtag‪#‎Media4Elections‬. Lead discussant, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Newspapers and President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, charged the Nigerian media on professional coverage of the general elections. Speaking at the International Press Centre (IPC) Tweet-a-Thon, on Tuesday, Adesina who was represented by Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Executive Director, Special Duties, The Sun Newspapers, stressed that if the elections would go well, without negative incidents, it depends largely on how the media do their work. “There are several factors that instigate electoral violence, but a key one is the perceived sense of injustice, through electoral manipulation. But if the media does its work professionally, covers the elections dispassionately, and the electoral umpire also does its work with absolute neutrality, and efficiently, then the possibilities of violence flaring are greatly reduced,” he said. Read full report  .

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