Stakeholders in the media industry are advocating for autonomy in all spheres to enable Journalists do their job fairly and without fear.
This was the stance of speakers at the commemoration event of international day to end impunity for crime against journalists organized by Voice of Nigeria in Lagos state, south west Nigeria.
The Director of Digital Research Center in Lagos state university, Dr Tunde Akanni, represented by a Lecturer in the department of Broadcasting, Lagos State University, Dr Stephen Fatonji said there should be clear separation of powers between the media and the three arms of government.
“I am advocating for autonomy of the media. Media is the fourth estate of the realm. Media cannot excellently, effectively operate if they are under the control of the first three arms of government, there should clear separation of power. Media houses should be allowed to be self-regulatory; they should have autonomy and the autonomy we are asking for are operational autonomy, financial autonomy, regulatory autonomy. When we talk about operational autonomy, it’s autonomy of ownership, even the media the government has set up, they should constitute board of editors, technocrats who are in charge across the various media organisations, these people should be reporting to nobody because the moment they are reporting to anybody they are under the direct control of such. The government can only put-up regulatory frameworks for media operations but under the direct control of the government” he argued.
He also called on the Nigerian government to look into infractions against journalists in Nigeria.
“We are using this occasion to call on the President of Nigeria to look into infractions in the areas of abuses, crime against journalists, we believe he is going to listen to us. Cases that have been recorded should be investigated and the culprits brought to book.”
The Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Voice of Nigeria, Mrs. Sylvia Dallas Speaking on behalf of the director general of Voice of Nigeria restated the importance of ensuring the protection of journalists.
She said “we need to do the needful, what is good for journalists in more developed democracies is good for journalists in Nigeria. If we don’t push our case, nobody will push it.”
Representing the Executive Director of International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade is Mrs. Melody Akinjinyan who urged Journalists to take responsibility for their safety while discharging their duties.
She shared some safety tips for journalists while on duty.
“At international Press Centre, IPP, we recently launched a safety advisory for journalists during the election where we shared some safety tips journalists should take note when they are going for assignment.
“If you are going on an assignment, you need to let some people know, you can’t just say I am going out and nobody knows where you are going, a few family members that are key should know, as a journalist you cannot take the risk and say you are going on an assignment and nobody knows where you are going.”
A branch manager of keystone bank, Mr. Ken Ofonome appreciated Nigerian journalists for putting the government on its toes to do right by the country.
Some Inhouse unions gave their goodwill messages, commending Voice of Nigeria for the initiative.
International day to end impunity for crime against Journalists is commemorated on November 2nd annually, to raise awareness on the challenges journalists face in the line of duty and also warn off, the escalation of violence and repression against journalists.
The theme for 2023 International Day to end Impunity for crime against journalists is ‘Journalists as endangered species’.
