Journalists facing difficulties in Nigeria – IPI

President of the International Press Institute, Musikilu Mojeed, has said that Nigerian journalists are facing difficulties.

He said this during training in Kano organised to equip senior journalists with the skills needed to avoid obnoxious laws targeted at the media.

IPI, established in 1950, is a global network of media executives, editors and leading journalists, committed to freedom of press and media rights.

Mojeed said section 22 of the Constitution allows “the press, radio, television and other agencies of mass media to all times be free to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.”

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He said many Nigerian journalists are harassed, assaulted, arrested, detained and sometimes killed for upholding the people’s right to know.

IPI Nigeria Board Chairman and Media Trust Group Chairman, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, who addressed the meeting virtually said media practitioners are facing difficulties just like many other Nigerians, adding that the solution to the economic crisis lies in the traditional role of the media holding government to account.

“It is difficult to be ethical when things are difficult, when people try to make ends meet, but in the long term, as media practitioners, we must always do what is right,” he said.

IPI global director, Mr Frane Maroevic, in a message to the training, said the institute would continue to encourage ethical journalism in the digital age when information travels faster to connect society and amplify values.

Director of MacArthur foundation Dr Kole Shettima said what the IPI is doing is very critical for the country and its democracy, adding that his foundation would continue to support independent media without which, he noted, even businesses would find it difficult to survive.

Senior journalists from the northwest region and media scholars attended the training.