Media and Conflict Reporting - The Port-Harcourt Resolution (Nigeria)

Communique issued at the Seminar on Media and Conflict Reporting/Management
held in Port Harcourt on the 26th - 28th September, 2000

A three-day seminar on "Media and Conflict Reporting/Management" was held at Rachael Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State from Tuesday, September 26th to Thursday , September 28th, 2000. The seminar was held under the auspices of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Media-for-Democracy In Nigeria Project (MFD) - a collaboration of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), Independent Journalism Centre (IJC) and the International Press Centre (IPC) established with the support of the European Union. The seminar was attended by at least 30 participants from print and electronic media, non-governmental organizations, Civil society groups and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). It examined in detail various issues and challenges involved in Conflict/Crisis Reporting and Management and resolved as follows:

GOVERNMENT AND THE LAW

  • Journalists need a legal instrument that will empower and enable them to have access to official information during crisis situations and in the coverage of conflicts. In this regard, the National Assembly is enjoined to pass urgently the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill pending before it.
  • In cases where government or government agencies require media coverage of crises and conflicts, they should provide adequate security including insurance cover for the journalists involved.
  • The government, through its relevant agencies, should regularly brief the public whenever the nation is involved in a conflict situation. Such situations include peace-keeping and military operations within and outside the country i.e participation in U.N. Sierra Leone peace-keeping mission, the invasion of Odi by soldiers, etc.
  • In all conflict/crisis situations, government should always react promptly to early signals of possible outbreak of hostilities.

MEDIA OWNERS

  • Media owners should provide adequate resources and equipment as well as insurance cover for journalists covering potentially hazardous assignments.
  • Media owners should not allow their interests to undermine the principles of fairness, objectivity and diversity in coverage of events.
  • As much as possible employment of journalists by media owners should reflect the diversity of the society.
  • Media employers should earn the loyalty and commitment of journalists by ensuring job security.

EDITORS/REPORTERS

  • Journalists should not allow their personal views and emotions as well as ethnic, religious, political and ideological sentiments to influence their reports on conflicts as such may call to question the credibility of the reports and put their lives at risk. In all cases the principle of fairness and accuracy should apply.
  • Journalists should have adequate knowledge of the history, politics, geography, etc of the country, region or area where they are covering conflicts.
  • Journalists should always avail themselves of a wide range of expert sources to strengthen and validate the process of crisis reporting so that all stories can be put in proper context. Doing this will bring journalism closer to all sections of the community.
  • Newspapers and magazines should avoid undue sensationalism in casting headlines of crisis reports.
  • Journalists should be well remunerated to avoid financial inducement to influence reports.
  • Journalists should strive to establish their own media houses to promote professional standards.
  • Journalists should collectively strive to maintain editorial independence.
  • Journalists should generally be well equipped to enhance the quality of their work.
  • Journalists should be exposed to regular training to improve their professional competence.
  • Journalists should give over-riding consideration to the public interest in all their reports.
  • Journalists should be sensitive and cautious in reporting events that are capable of inflaming passions.

MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS

The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) should provide an effective mechanism for enforcing the code of conduct for journalists. SGD: Lanre Arogundade Co-ordinator International Press Center Edetaen Ojo Executive Director Media Rights Agenda