By Iteveh Ekpokpobe,
The import of facts checking and investigative journalism have been underscored by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), at its 6-day training workshop for journalists on fact-checking in criminal justice administration and anti-graft.
The program manager, Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism, Mr. Mboho Eno, explained that the training would acquaint journalists with relevant knowledge and skills to become more exposed to criminal justice system and anti-corruption.
The training which is for selected journalists in the South East and South South geopolitical zones, is sponsored by the European Union and British Council, kicked off on Monday, May 20, 2019 in Awka, Anambra State with termination date pegged on Saturday, May 25, 2019.
The Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Gbemiga Ogunleye, in his lecture series harped on the all-important role of the media in making or marring society.
Ogunleye stressed the need for journalists to strengthen the crumbing wall of society’s trust by employing the ethics of the profession at all times.
According to him, the profession was currently threatened by the invasion of real time social media users at an alarming high, hence all lovers of the revered profession must put hands on deck.
Also speaking, a facilitator and staff of PTCIJ, Mr. Akintunde Babatunde, enjoined journalists to be independent and accountable to the public, adding that the core element of journalism required that reports be veracious.
He urged the trainees to be good ambassadors of the fact checking movement to help bring sanity into information dissemination in developing Nigeria.
Anambra State Coordinator, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC), Josephine Onah, in a goodwill message stated that the role of media in criminal justice administration and anti- corruption fight was unquantifiable.
She disclosed that the ROLAC would continue to support efforts geared towards the development of criminal justice administration in the state.
