Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the media to avoid the breaking news syndrome and rather focus on effective and accurate reporting.
INEC’s Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ugboaja made the call at a one-day roundtable on “The Role of Mass Media in ensuring a free and fair election for sustainable democracy”, held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The event was organised by the JICA Alumni Association of Nigeria (JAAN) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
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Ugboaja said some of the mainstream media were gradually gravitating towards online journalism with the attendant quest for breaking news, which he said is sometimes not properly verified and processed.
Also speaking, the JAAN President, Mr. Ahmed Agbrankhe charged journalists to be change agents through a fair, accurate, ethical, and inclusive coverage and reporting of electoral processes to bring about positive changes in Nigeria and beyond.
