The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has given its members November 1, 2021 deadline to empanel an internal Ombudsman mechanism.
NPAN Executive Council gave the deadline after a meeting on October 12, 2021 in Lagos, according to a communique signed by the association’s chairman and secretary, Kabiru Yusuf and Feyi Smith respectively.
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The association said steps were also being quickened to empanel at the industry level, a workable, quick and responsive system to address public complaints and concerns on missteps by the media and its operatives.
The internal Ombudsman, according to the NPAN, is to ensure that the news organisation keeps to the canons of journalism practice and the code of ethics.
It also aims at mediating in conflicts stemming from internal or external pressures, keeping news organisation honest and accountable to the public for news reported as well as ensuring that the public’s right to know is protected.
“The internal Ombudsman, in discharging its responsibilities, is expected to work with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Code of Ethics and the canons of journalism practice as encapsulated in FOBAC – Fairness, Objectivity, Balance, Accuracy and Completeness.
“The Council resolved to unfold soon, a global Ombudsman structure for the entire industry and the modalities for same
“It reaffirms its commitment to responsible journalism, at all times,” the communique read.
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