The United Nations Systems, Nigeria, has called on media entrepreneurs to prioritise the welfare, security of their journalists and provide them with Personal Protective Equipment to cover the COVID-19 pandemic.
Edward Kallon, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of UN Systems in Nigeria, made the call on Tuesday in a Webinar monitored in Abuja for World Press Freedom Day usually recognised every May 3.
The webinar was hosted by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, with the theme ‘Journalism Without Fear or Favour’ and also focused on reporting in the period of pandemic.
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Kallon said practising journalism profession in fear, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic could not be totally objective if journalists were not well catered for.
He said that covering the pandemic was similar to covering war situations which always had uncertainties.
“To report accurately, timely, clearly, you must be at the frontline of the health emergency response, even in the face of threats of infection.
“As much as journalists are duty-bound to report without fear and hold the government accountable, media entrepreneurs should support reporters to abide by ethics of the profession,” he said.
“Many journalists across the world, including Nigeria, have reportedly been infected with COVID-19 in the line of duty.
“If we want journalism without fear or favour, media employers, entrepreneurs must be assuring in their duty of care to their reporters.
“I urge media owners and employers to provide PPE for their reporters who are on the frontline of COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. (NAN)
