Press Release

Press Release

IPC, NPC to Present Media Monitoring Report On Election Coverage

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The International Press Centre (IPC) and the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) are set to release the report of the monitoring of the coverage of the 2015 elections by selected newspapers, online media and social media platforms in the month of January, 2015. The presentation which will take place during a press/tweet conference on February 26 will be graced by prominent media professionals and stakeholders as well as development partners. According to Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director, IPC, the monitoring exercise started in November 2014 and will end in April, 2015. Up to twenty three national and regional newspapers, four online media and three social media platforms are being monitored by the two organizations with the support of the United Nations Development Programme’s Democratic Governance for Development Project (UNDP-DGD) and its partners including the EU, the UK AID, the Canadian Department for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFTAD) and the UNDP. Among the issues being monitored are the professional and ethical standard of reporting, the degree of access to parties and candidates, the quality and quantity of reports on female politicians, language-sensitive and conflict-sensitive standards of elections coverage, he added.

Press Release

IPC conducts survey on safety of journalists in Nigeria

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has commenced a survey on the safety of journalists in Nigeria as part of its project on safety of journalists and emerging issues in conflict in Nigeria supported by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), Nigeria. According to Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director, IPC, the survey started in November, 2014 and will end in April 2015. He noted that the immediate objective of the project is to conduct an assessment that provides baseline information on safety of journalists in Nigeria especially in the context of UNESCO Journalists’ Safety Indicator at the National Level so as to facilitate an intervention plan by UNESCO, its partners and other interested stakeholders. He further said the exercise is meant to highlight the danger faced by journalists, the nature and character of the violations of their rights, the institutions and persons responsible for such violations and the actions taken or not taken to promote the safety of journalists. The findings will also be used to engage relevant stakeholders on the safety of journalists in Nigeria. Among the documented violations as sourced from nine national newspapers in November and December, 2014, are assault, abduction and destruction of working equipment. Most of the attacks affecting 17 journalists occurred in November at separate locations. Fourteen journalists, among them, three females, were kidnapped by militants in Delta State. One journalist was abducted by gunmen in Abia State. One journalist was assaulted in Osun State while another journalist and his crew members were assaulted in Kwara state. The police were allegedly responsible for most of the attacks that occurred in December. Four of them took place in Taraba State. Arogundade noted that journalists working in conflict zones and politically volatile areas continue to be vulnerable to attacks and in most cases there was no conclusive investigation and apprehension of those responsible for such including abductions. He commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for its intervention, being the most visible media pressure group condemning the attacks. He called on security agencies to investigate the reported cases and bring the perpetrators to book.

Press Release

IPC, NPC to hold press conference on media coverage of 2015 elections

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria and the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) will today hold a press/tweet conference, during which the two media institutions will release the findings and outcome of the monitoring of the coverage and reportage of the 2015 elections for the months of November and December, 2014. According to a statement signed by Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director, IPC, the press/tweet conference will also enable the two institutions to release preliminary observations on media coverage of the elections for the month of January 2015. The monitoring exercise is being supported by the United Nations Development Programme’s Democratic Governance for Development Project (UNDP-DGD) through the funding support of its partners including the EU, the UK AID, the Canadian Department for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFTAD) and the UNDP. Arogundade noted that the monitoring exercise started in November 2014 and is being conducted in the context of media performance of its duties and obligations during elections as well as compliance with professional, ethical, regulatory, gender-supportive, language-sensitive and conflict-sensitive standards of elections coverage. “We are monitoring twenty three national and regional newspapers including Daily Sun, The Nation, National Mirror, Vanguard, The Punch, ThisDay, Daily Independent, The Guardian,  Nigerian Tribune, Champion, Chronicle, Daily Star, Observer, Peoples Daily, Daily Trust, Nigerian Pilot, Leadership, Blueprint, Desert Herald, Fresh Facts, The Abuja Inquirer, Newsday and The Gleaners. “Additionally, IPC is monitoring three online media – The Tide, Cable News, Premium Times – and four social media platforms – Enough-is-Enough, Reclaim Naija, INEC and Sahara Reporters” he said. The press/tweet conference will be attended by prominent media professionals and stakeholders as well as development partners.

Press Release

IPC To Hold 7th Media Tweet-a-thon

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria will hold a media tweet-a-thon with the theme: “Making use of Media Code of Election Coverage for Credible Reporting” on Tuesday, January 13, 2014. According to Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director of IPC, the tweet-a-thon with hashtag #Media4Elections is a monthly activity supported by UNDP DGD III aimed at promoting active media engagement and active citizens’ participation in the electoral process ahead of 2015 elections. Mr. Femi Adesina, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Sun Newspapers and President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Mrs. Funmi Komolafe, Assistant Editor, Vanguard newspapers will lead the discussions. Arogundade noted that the program will review the new media code of election coverage launched recently by media stakeholders and discuss how it can be used to advance credible reporting of the forthcoming elections. He further stated that the program will be interactive as there would be a question and answer session by the participants physically present as well as following on twitter and other social media channels. He enjoined members of the public to participate in the programme.  

Press Release

2015: Advancing Youth Participation In Election

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria will hold her sixth media tweet-a-thon with the theme: “2015: Advancing youth participation in elections” on Tuesday, December 23, 2014. According to Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director of IPC, the tweet-a-thon with hashtag #Media4Elections is a monthly activity supported by UNDP DGD III aimed at promoting active media engagement and active citizens’ participation in the electoral process ahead of 2015 elections. A statement issued by IPC’s Social Media Officer, Keye Ewebiyi asserted that Mr. Lanre Suraj, Executive Director, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, Lagos will be the lead speaker at the event. Arogundade noted that the program will be interactive as there would be a question and answer session by the participants physically present as well as following on twitter and other social media channels. He urged Nigerian youths and other members of the public to participate in the programme through their Twitter handle.

Press Release

IPC To Hold Media Tweet-a-thon

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria will hold a media tweet-a-thon with the theme: “Report of baseline survey of newspapers coverage of electoral issues ahead 2015 elections: Matters arising and lessons” on Thursday, December 11, 2014. According to Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director of IPC, the tweet-a-thon with hashtag #Media4Elections is a monthly activity supported by UNDP DGD III aimed at promoting active media engagement and active citizens’ participation in the electoral process ahead of 2015 elections. Mr. Ray Ekpu, veteran journalist and former President of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Mr. Tunde Akanni, Communication Lecturer, Lagos State University (LASU) will be the lead speaker and lead discussant respectively at the event. Arogundade noted that the program will be interactive as there would be a question and answer session by the participants physically present as well as following on twitter and other social media channels. He enjoined members of the public to participate in the programme.

Press Release

IPC Issues Advisory On ‘Ebola’ Crisis Reporting. Commends Nigerian Media

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, yesterday issued some recommendations, which it says are intended to assist the Nigerian media in reporting the challenges posed by the outbreak of the Ebola virus. Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, commended the Nigerian media for its effort to give extensive coverage to the crisis but said the advisory was nonetheless necessary to serve as a guide for promoting best professional practices. The 11-point advisory issued on Thursday, August 7, 2014, enjoins the Nigerian media and journalists to: – Accord the highest regard to the public interest in reporting the Ebola crisis; – Ensure that that the sole purpose of reporting the Ebola crisis is to adequately educate and enlighten the citizens; – Painstakingly verify facts from credible sources in order to provide accurate and reliable information; facts must be held sacred and unfounded rumours dispelled; – Apply the appropriate sense of balance in reporting the crisis by neither sensationalizing the news to create panic nor trivializing it to undermine the seriousness of the situation; – Provide regularly updated information on what citizens can and should do to protect themselves from possible exposure to situation and circumstances that might cause Ebola infection; – Work more closely with national and international health authorities as well as all levels of government to develop and publicise frequently asked questions (FAQs) (and answers) on Ebola; – Put in place health support hotlines through which citizens could seek more information on Ebola; – Regard the Ebola issue as a major national, regional and international crisis that could provoke multi-layer conflicts the reporting of which therefore requires the application of the principles of conflict sensitive journalism; – Closely monitor discussions in the social media networks, blogs etc to promptly correct any false information that may be in circulation while using the same to disseminate credible information; – Shun prejudice and exercise ethical discretion in using facts and figures and publishing information about victims; – Give adequate regard to personal safety by taking necessary protective measures while doing field reports on the Ebola virus. Stella Nwofia Programme Officer E: stellanwofia@ipcng.org T: +234 (0) 8020359629

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