By Dare Akogun
Journalists and media professionals from across Nigeria’s South-West region have called for urgent reforms to laws affecting the media, emphasizing the need for better legal guarantees of media freedom and enhanced safety for journalists.
This was the major outcome of a two-day workshop on “Laws Affecting the Media and Safety of Journalists in Nigeria” held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Participants called for future constitutional amendments to include guarantees of media freedom, and for the revision of existing laws like the Criminal Code, Cybercrimes Act, and Penal Code to align them with regional and international standards for the protection of media freedom.
In addition, the workshop stressed the importance of digital security for journalists, encouraging them to implement digital security measures and maintain appropriate digital hygiene to protect sensitive information and maintain the integrity of their work in the digital space.
Participants also decried the widespread arrests, harassment, and intimidation of journalists covering protests, particularly the #EndBadGovernance protests, by law enforcement and security officials.
They described such actions as unacceptable violations of journalists’ rights and called on the Federal and State governments to protect journalists covering protests and ensure that those who attack them are brought to justice.
Speaking at the workshop the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda , Mr Edeaton Ojo underscored the importance of journalists being knowledgeable about the laws and regulations affecting media practice in the country.
He urged them to regularly update their knowledge of these laws and comply with applicable ethical codes to protect themselves, assert their rights, and ensure they can carry out their professional duties without undue interference or fear of retribution.
Ojo also encouraged Media organizations, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to periodically organize such workshops to enlighten journalists about the legal framework governing the media sector and the evolving legal landscape.
A communiqué issued at the end of the workshop highlighted the lack of adequate legal guarantees for media freedom in Nigeria’s Constitution and other laws, which leaves journalists vulnerable to attacks and harassment.
To address the legal challenges faced by journalists, the workshop recommended the establishment of a legal support fund and a national network of lawyers to assist journalists facing legal issues.
The workshop concluded with a call for media stakeholders, including professional bodies, support organizations, and media owners, to work together to engage in policy and law-making processes to ensure that emerging laws and policies are supportive of media freedom and create a conducive environment for journalism practice in Nigeria.
The workshop, organized by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion, and Accountability (CMEDIA) Project, brought together about 30 participants from various media organizations.
The workshop aimed to provide journalists with an overview of the current legal framework governing the media in Nigeria, offer practical guidance on ensuring compliance with media-related laws, and foster a collaborative environment to address the challenges faced by journalists in their daily work.
