NGE, NPAN, NUJ, others resolve to pursue self-regulatory framework

Media

By Adeyemi Adeleye

Lagos, June 21, 2022 (NAN) Stakeholders in the  media industry on Tuesday resolved to pursue a self-regulatory framework to ensure improved standards in the Nigerian media.

The stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC), as well as media managers gave the position at a one-day strategic meeting in Lagos.

The stakeholders, in a communique   signed by Mustapha Isah, the NGE President, Feyi Smith, the Executive Secretary of NPAN; Chris Isiguzo, the President of NUJ; Edetaen Ojo, the Executive Director of MRA, and Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of Internationsl Press Center (IPC),  resolved to protect the media sector from interferences, control and repression by government.

According to them, a media regulatory framework led and driven by media professionals,  represents the most effective guarantee of media freedom and the independence of the media, in line with with regional and international norms and standards.

‘’The meeting agreed that consistent with regional and international norms and standards, a media regulatory framework led and driven by media professionals represents the most effective guarantee of media freedom and the independence of the media.

‘’The stakeholders also resolved to effectively implement the existing Code of Ethics for Nigerian journalists while the process of updating same is on.

“The participants also resolved to work together as a sector for the betterment of the journalism profession as well as media business.”

According to the communique, the stakeholders commended media houses that had already appointed local Ombudsman in their organisations.

It called on those that had not appointed or designated such mechanisms to take urgent steps to do so while the industry would work on the institution of a global arrangement.

The communique added that the meeting also set up a committee made up of representatives of the different stakeholder groups to develop a framework for self-regulation by the media in Nigeria.

The communique said such framework would be presented to a larger meeting of media stakeholders.

It said that the stakeholders were mandated to look at all the reports of various committees set up to review the laws guiding the practice, the profession and the business of the media as a guide to a final position.

The stakeholders also restated the commitment of media stakeholders to defend freedom of expression, media freedom and independence as well as the public’s right to know.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was to deliberate on the framework for Media regulation in Nigeria.

The meeting, which was supported by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, was convened by the NGE in continuation of an ongoing initiative, which included a series of town-hall meetings and capacity-building workshops for editors in Nigeria. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma