ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, YENAGOA
The United States Consulate Mission has lauded Nigerian journalists for defending democracy in the country in spite of some challenges in the line of their duties.
The Consulate said the Nigerian mass media as the fourth pillar of democracy has given voice to citizens and continued to engage the government for sustainable and lasting change.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Mission in Lagos, Mr. Stephen Ibelli gave the commendation on Monday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, during a post-election reporting workshop for journalists in the state, organised by Lekan Otufodunrin-led Media Career Development Network (MCDN) and sponsored by United States Consulate, Lagos.
Journalists, drawn from different media houses across the country, were trained in current trends in Media and Democratic Accountability, Reporting Conflicts, Journalism and Ethics and Professional Development.
Ebelli said: “I have seen how media contributes to accountability and transparency in Nigeria. You play a major role in engendering good governance and this is not what can be done easily.
“Beyond informing the people, you should give citizens a voice and tools they need to continue to engage the government for the sustainable and lasting change they desire.
“In America, the media is referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy. I must commend you for playing that role by protecting democracy because it cannot live in the dark. So, this training is not only aimed at improving your reporting skills but to encourage you to report the local community in their states.”
Taking participating journalists through the dynamics of the Media and Democratic Accountability, Prof. Lai Oso, former Dean of Media and Communications Studies, Lagos State University, said that in order to make the media an instrument that is used to help citizens exercise their power, journalists must be independent and autonomous.
Explaining the functions of the media, Oso said that for the media to achieve its objective, journalists must strive to ensure that they produce popular knowledge that would help citizens monitor and participate in governance. He said: “The media was carved out to monitor governance. The major responsibility of the media is to hold the government accountable. And to achieve this, journalists must engage in investigative journalism that brings attention to wrongdoings in society.”