Nigerian health journalists have been tasked to do more of investigative journalism to unravel COVID-19 mysteries, mirths and success stories.
The Chief Executive Officer of the International Society of Media in Public Health, Mrs Moji Makanjuola gave the charge at the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, ANHEJ 4th Annual Conference, holding at Goshen City, near Abuja.
She said that the Conference which focuses on COVID-19 Reportage Assessment offers the journalists the opportunity to appraise the work they are doing and also forge a way forward.
“As journalists, we need to dig deep, ask questions and report issues that are under-reported. It is our job and we must do it well because people are looking up to us for answers,” said Makanjuola.
While appreciating Nigerian journalists on the accurate and intensive reportage of COVID-19, World Health Organisation Communication expert, Charity Warigon, said that the Nigerian media took ownership of the fight against COVID-19.
She said that the Nigerian media need all the support they can get to do their jobs better.
“The discussion points are important especially as they concentrate on reporting the novel coronavirus pandemic. I am very sure that with the calibre of people charged with the responsibility of presenting the papers, assures me that no journalist will leave here the same. God willing, if I can mobilize funds, there will be postmortem workshop of the impact of this discussion,” Warigon added.
In his presentation “Using Social Media Effectively to Promote Stories”, the Coordinator African Health Budget Network, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, urged the journalists to always make themselves visible on Social media.
He noted that social media has become the new normal and the journalists must not be left behind.
The chairman of the Board, ANHEJ, Mr Godwin Odemijie in his remark said that reportage is constantly changing.
He also said that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak brought a huge challenge to media organisations globally and enjoined journalists to go deep investigative reporting to help uncover issues to be tackled.
Also, the Director-General of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Mr Peter Obi, commended the Nigerian media for sustaining positive reportage of COVID-19.
In his welcome address, the President of the Association of Nigeria Journalists (ANHEJ), Mr Hassan Zaggi, has said that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak era was a very taking time for journalists in Nigeria.
He said the Conference with focus on COVID-19 Reportage Assessment was aimed at examining how journalists faired during the period.
“It was indeed very tasking that even though a journalist could not go out to source for information, but he or she is expected to get the needed information across to the people so that they can have required information to protect themselves from the diseases.
From our own assessment, we did our very best within the circumstances we found ourselves by working with medical and health experts, health-related government institutions and critical stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that our people are well informed about Coronavirus. We are still in the business of doing so, even as the good news of vaccine invention livens up the world,” Zaggi said.
The three-day 4th Annual Conference continues.
Suzan O
