In a bid to prevent the spread of misleading Information that may negatively impact the housing sector in Nigeria, stakeholders in the sector have called on real estate and housing reporters to be objective in their reportage to bolster the industry’s reputation and generate positive awareness of the sector.
They made the call during a workshop organised by the Africa Media Roundtable Initiative in conjunction with Leisure Court for Real Estate and Housing Reporters in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.
The Chairman of Leisure Court, Mr. Segun Abolaji while declaring the workshop open, emphasised the need for the Media to be unbiased in their reportage to help instill confidence in potential homebuyers and investors, which can, in turn, have a positive impact on the industry.
“The real estate industry and journalism have a symbiotic relationship, as real estate businesses rely on media coverage to generate awareness of their offerings, and journalists rely on the industry for news and insights. However, as the sector continues to evolve and undergo various changes, reporters must remain impartial and objective in their coverage,” he said.
He urged journalists to strive to report on industry trends and developments in a balanced and fair manner highlighting the high cost of land and building materials, and inadequate government regulation as one of the challenges faced by Realtors in the sector.
While speaking, a lecturer at the International Institute of Journalism, Dr Austin Maho stated that Nigeria’s media is a reflection of its society.
He emphasized that regardless, journalists must work to uphold the ethics and standards of the profession adding that doing so can have numerous benefits for both the media and the real estate industry, as it helps to promote transparency, accountability, and trust, while also contributing to a more informed and engaged public.
“It is crucial for reporters to remain impartial and objective in their coverage. This means that they should report without undue bias or influence. Don’t allow commercialisation to override the primary objective of journalism. A good journalist understands the ethics of the profession and adheres to it,” Maho said.
Also speaking, a lecturer at the International Institute of Journalism, Dr Law Mefo urged participants to stay up-to-date with comprehensive information on the housing industry and adhere to international standards in reporting.
“To enhance the effectiveness of estate agents in the Nigerian real estate industry, it has become increasingly necessary to establish a well-defined legal framework that adequately regulates their activities. This will promote transparency and accountability in an industry that has been marred by fraudulent practices in recent times. The implementation of such a framework would also help build trust amongst stakeholders such as buyers, sellers, and investors, and ultimately increase investment in the sector. Ultimately, a proper legal framework is essential for the real estate industry’s sustainable growth and could also positively impact Nigeria’s economy as a whole,” Mefo said.
The theme of the workshop was: Promoting Real Estate Investment through Informed Media Alliance and Sustained Reporters Professionalism through Capacity Building.
Dominica Nwabufo
Comments are closed.