ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in collaboration with Open Society Foundation Africa, has tasked journalists with accurate and verifiable Early Warning reporting through enhanced collaboration, communication and coordination that supports Early Response mechanisms.
The organization noted that as human explores and harnesses her natural environment, it becomes imperative to establish and empower social institutions such as media to uphold social stability through accurate and verifiable reporting.
This was made known in a communique issued at the end of a one-day training on Early Warning and Early Response Reporting, held in Enugu on Friday, 28 April, 2023.
Speaking at the training which was attended by over 20 participants including journalists from voiceofnaija.ng and various media outfits in the State, Professor Michael Ukonu, a lecturer at the University of Nsukka, stressed on the need for accuracy in reportage.
He spoke on the topic titled, “The Role of the Media in Building Effective Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism for Communities – Conflict Sensitive and Objective Reportage.”
Ukonu said the nature of constitutional powers accorded to the media coupled with social expectations has positioned the journalists as emergency specialists in accurate reporting of both natural and man-made disasters.
He said that the importance of the Early Warning and Early Response is anchored on efficient capacity that answers critical questions like how to anticipate, manage and report conflict.
Describing journalists as social change, the academician noted that it is their responsibility to trigger the cycles of social evolution and social conflict, hence, the need to activate Early Warning and Early Response system, supported by the accurate and factual media reporting.
He said that Early Warning and Early Response reporting exceeds beyond usual reporting, adding that journalists are expected to go into in-depth issues like ability to identify, collect, analyze and contextualize information/data through well-informed social mobilization and socialization process.