Stallion Times Media Organises one day training for investigative Journalists in Kogi.
*Warns against unethical practices.
DistInguished Gentlemen of the press
| bring you greetings of HOPE from Stallion Times Media Services Ltd., the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism, and the MacArthur Foundation.
| thank you for making out time out of your tight schedule as practicing journalists to attend this media training workshop.
Stallion Times Media Services Ltd. Is implementing a 3-year Participatory
Governance and Media Literacy project tagged “Get Involved, Dialogue and Improve (G-DRIP)” in Kano and Kogl states.
The project is in collaboration with the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism under the Collaborative Media Project (Collaborating for media independence and government accountability), funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
In this initiative, we are looking to amongst other things, build the capacity of journalists and other stakeholders on investigative reporting, ethics, safety, media literacy, and sustainability.
We will lead conversations and provide thought leadership on media independence, accountability of government at all levels, social justice, and amplify the voices of marginalized groups.
It is given this and in recognition of your contribution towards promoting good governance and driving professionalism in the media space that we have invited you:to one of such activities…..the ‘a one-day training workshop on the Code of Ethics for Journalists’.
The idea of this training is to provoke discussion or conversations if you like, on ethical and moral issues In Journalism practice, to provide a basis for journalistic ethics and set a conceptual framework of practice and appraise the hazards in modern journalism.
The code of ethics deals fundamentally with Editorial Independence, Accuracy and Fairness, Privacy, Privilege/Non-Disclosure, Decency, Discrimination, Reward, and Gratification; Violence; Children and Minors; Access to Information; Social Responsibility; Plagiarism, and Copyright.
According to Merrill (1982:8) “ethics has to do with duty-duty to self and duty to others. It.is considered primarily individual or personal even when it relates to obligation and duties to other”.
Objectivity In today’s superheated political environment may be arguably impossible, but impartiality should still be the ultimate goal of a journalist. Even those who:.are paid to write opinions, columns, editorials, talk show hosts, bloggers,etc, should at least be aware of all relevant ethical codes.
The effort to rid the media of non-professionalism that often gives the profession a bad name requires a holistic approach by all stakeholders.
Relevant regulatory bodies need to enforce the code of ethical conduct as well as ensure that necessary training and the right attitudes are properly introduced to form a basis for entrance into the profession to consistently engender sanity and propriety in the professional practice.
In this project, we will collaborate with media houses, support, mentor, and assist journalists to write investigative stories that will expose corruption and promote community development while upholding ethical standards and a community of best practices.
All of these will be achieved through a strategy of multi-level activities aimed at improving. good governance for the marginalized — minority groups, women, youths, persons with disability to drive home this Initiative for the common good of the country, state, and citizens.
We are hopeful that this training and conversation will not end with you as we encourage you to keep the discussion alive, step down the knowledge from this training to all, and sundry in the industry.
We thank you all for coming to be part of the process that will ensure journalists abide by the professional and ethical standards of practice.
Thank you.
Isiyaku Ahmed CEO/Editor-in Chief
