IPC roundtable on the Media and 2003 Elections
Statement from the International Press Centre (IPC) - LagosA panel of journalists, politicians and independent media practitioners will on Thursday June 5, 2003 , examine the performance of the media before, during and after the just concluded National and State elections, the International Press Centre (IPC) has announced.
They will voice their opinion at a one-day roundtable on the Media and 2003 Elections inside IPC s Media Hall of fame 42, Ijaye Road, Caterpillar Bus Stop, Ogba Lagos from 10am prompt.
IPC says the roundtable, which is a joint cooperation of the Media-For-Democracy in Nigeria group (Media Rights Agenda, Independent Journalism Centre, Journalists for Democratic Rights), the International Federation of journalists (IFJ) and LOT/CO, Sweden, will further examine the adequacy, effectiveness, fairness etc or otherwise of Media performance before, during and after the elections in view of the constitutional obligations of the media and its responsibilities to the society.
It cites the example of the European Union Election observation Mission (EUEOM) report, which says the Nigerian media failed to provide unbiased, fair and informative coverage of political parties and candidates contesting the election.
Among the Panelists and their topics are: Mr. Lanre Idowu, Media Review: Rating the Print Media coverage of 2003 elections; Mr. Austin Agbonsiremi, AIT/Ray Power: Rating the broadcast coverage of the 2003 elections; Mr. Tony Iyare, Punch Columnist: Analyzing factors responsible for how Media covered 2003 elections; Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Media Rights Agenda: Election, Monitoring of the Media and 2003 experience; Mr. Waziri Adio, ThisDay: Ethics, code of conduct and Media coverage of 2003 elections and Mr. Sola Odunfa, BBC: Foreign Media and coverage of 2003 elections.
Others are Mr. Osa Director, Insider Weekly: Editors as gatekeepers, the 2003 experience; Mr. Femi Aborisade, National Conscience Party: Media and 2003 elections the experience of NCP; Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, Alliance for Democracy: Media and 2003 election the experience of AD; Mr. Muyiwa Collins, Peoples Democratic Party: Media and 2003 election the experience of PDP; Prince Tony Momoh, former Information Minister: Media and 2003 elections, my experience on the field and Mr. Smart Adeyemi, Nigeria Union of Journalists: Politics and Corruption, Is the Media above board?
According to IPC's statement Mrs. Remi Oyo, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Ms. Gold Oruh, Nigeria Television Authority, Mr. Wale Adeoye, Journalists for Democratic Rights and Mr. Sola Isola, Independent Journalism Centre will moderate the round table, expected to produce an agenda for improved media performance in future.