By Dada Ahmed
Without mincing words, Nigerian editors can aptly be described as critical stakeholders and valued allies in the struggle toward the attainment of independence of Nigeria in 1960.
The nation also not shy away from the impact of this crop of media practitioners in the process of nurturing, sustaining the philosophy of self rule, enhance and sustain the tempo of democratic culture in the country.
History is explicit about the editorial exploits of many newspapers in the 40s, 50s and 60s, whose editors dared the storms created by the former colonnial administration and paved way for the realisation of Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960, and the subsequent entrenchment of democratic culture in the country.
Discerning minds also bear eloquent testimony to the heroic role of editors in the collective efforts to wrestle Nigeria from the political apron string of former colonnial masters. This role they played with nationalistic tendency, blended with articulate editorial thrust that gingered the nationalists to accomplish the aims and objectives of sovereignty, seamlessly.
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Mustapha Isah, reflected on the vital role of editors in the social, economic and political development of the country when he showered praises on the editors at a public function recently.
He did so while speaking in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, during the North Central Townhall Meeting/Capacity Building for Editors. The event was themed: “Agenda Setting for Sustainable Democratic Culture”.
The erudite editor said the role of editors in shaping the character and sustanability of democratic culture in Nigeria remained indelible in many minds as well as in the annals of the nation’s journey toward independence, describing them as critical stakeholders in such patrotic, nationalistic, noble and just cause.
At the intellectually and professionally enriching occasion, attended by no fewer than 50 senior editors drawn from public and private media organisations in the country, Isah however stressed the need for editors to continually improve their knowledge to enable them prove their mettle effectively.
While the role of editors in national development cannot be overemphasised and the watchdog function of journalists not in doubt, the need for continued upgrading of their knowledge, for better performance, becomes essential.
Such move, media analysts believe, will ensure objective reportage of news and constitute a major contribution towards building a nation where peace, development in all ramifications and tranquility will be the basis upon the indext of the country will be measured.
One basic lesson editors learnt at the three-day event which will strengthen their resolve to improve their dexterity in the discharge of their duty is the fact that they must fact-check their stories before sending them to public domain.
They needed to be reminded by Wikipedia that “fact-checking is a process that seeks to verify sometimes factual information, in order to promote the veracity and correctness of reporting. Again that “fact-checking can be conducted before or after the text is published or otherwise disseminated”.
Therefore, in carrying out their crucial duty to avoid having problems with the law or tanishing their reputation, the editors converged at Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, FCT, to tap from the knowledge and experience of resource persons in the media on the way forward.
The Editor-in-Chief, Leadership Newspapers, Abuja, a seasoned journalist and one of the resource persons at the occasion, Mr Azu Ishiekwene, believes that editors must keep acquiring new knowledge to be able to perform their duty in meeting the expectation of reading or listening public, citing fact-checking mechanism to accomplish the onerous task.
Ishiekwene, whose lecture centred on “Tools for Editors to Fact check and Manage More Efficiently,” said that editors must acquire fact check mechanism to avoid publishing fake news capable of damaging and ridiculing their reputation and that of their organisations.
He further warned that unprofessional behaviour could land editors and their organisations in trouble with the law and damage the reputation they built ove the years.
According to him, even though the tendency among the editors can be the first to break the news, in doing that, they must fact-check all the sources regarding the story at their disposal to establish the truth, an essential ingredient in news writing and dissemination, before publication.
Ishiekwene stressed that rather than rushing to publish stories, editors must also pause and take a critical look at the content to ensure that such information has a well verifiable and authentic source.
According to him, enlightening as social media may look, experience shows they also carry fake news, adding that editors must take all information they get from media of global dimension as gospel truth but go beyond that by fact-checking it with other authentic sources before serving the public.
The media expert, who noted that the contemporary editors have limitless resources to fact-check information, advised them to explore and exploit their media skills by carrying out research on stories before publication, using tools to appreciate fact check of international standard to avoid tendering apology over fake news.
He also called on the editors to verify sources or cross check them with reliable and trusted colleagues, rather than taking such information in their face value and publish.
The Editor-in-Chief, who said the use of fact-check mechanism would help editors to properly conceptualise the news content of an information, reminded that “every editor needs an editor” to cross check his or her edited copy with a view to making sure that the news is correct.
In his vote of thanks, the President of the NGE, Mr Mustapha Isah, commended participants for their quality input, interactions and conversation they displayed culminating in the success of the training.
While thanking the US Government for supporting the event, Isah disclosed that the next of such occasion would be in Enugu and Portharcourt so that more editors from the South East and South South zones could benefit from its aims and objectives.
Of course, participants left the event, not only enriched as to way forward in discharging their duty effectively, but also showered praises on the NGE leadership and the US Government for making the intellectually and professionally rewarding exercise a reality.
Bath Ikiebe, a Deputy Director, News, Voice of Nigeria, Abuja, said: “Super grateful to the Exco and US Embassy in Nigeria, for providing this unique opportunity to building our capacity for improved performance as Editors.
“The speakers were exceptionally good in delivering the topics to our able and highly responsible Editors. We shall keep the conversations going until the establishment of a Nigerian Media Council for all practitioners.”
Another editor, Ukaa, described the event as one of the best conferences he has ever attended in the NGE and commended the quality of the resource persons, the topics as well as group discussions.
On his part, Malam Muhammed Suleiman Tola, a Deputy Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gave kudos to all the stakeholders in the success of the exercise.
“I want to congratulate the President and the rest of the EXCO for a job well done. We need this often.
“Once more, congratulations to all of us (the NGE leadership, the US Embassy for the support, resource persons and members) for a fruitful engagement. I am particularly impressed with the organisation, maturity and commitment demonstrated by participants and quality of presentations.”
In a nutshell, the consensus among the participants of the workshop is that, it is a right thing in the right direction and at the right time. It will be an under statement to say that it is aimed at bracing the editors for greater challenges, especially as political space gathers momentum towards the 2023 general elections.
Dada Ahmed is a member of the Editors Guild and one of the participants at the conference..
