Global Center for Media collaborates Bauchi NUJ, trains Journalists on political reporting

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Samuel Luka, Bauchi

The Global Center for Media and Human Empowerment (GCMHE) has in collaboration with the Bauchi state Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) trained 15 Journalists on political reporting.

The training which took place at the NUJ Secretariat Saturday in Bauchi saw many Journalists participating in the training workshop, tagged ‘2022 Pre-election Workshop for Members of NUJ Bauchi’.

While presenting a paper on a topic, ‘Media and Politics: The Place of Neutrality’, Publisher of West African Monitor, Mr. Tom Kubua, said that the media is defined by its function as the forth estate of the realm.

According to him, the role of the Journalist is to call the politician to account ultimately to public, with the understanding that the politicians are less willing to give account.

On his part, Ag. Director-General of the Center, Charles Ejoh who presented the second paper titled, National Development: Roles, Professional and Ethical Responsibility of the Press in Politics Vis-a-Vis Election Reporting, said the media is expected to influence the society positively by setting the agenda for the critical issues and the challenges of the society to stimulate public discuss for the overall good of the citizens.

Mr. Ejoh noted that Journalists must recognize that they exercise freedom of expression as a vehicle for the basic human right of all in the society and not for any personal or sectional rights, privileges, friends or supporters.

He pointed out that in journalism, Ethical ideal requires that the media exercise high sense of social responsibility, encompassing self restraint, being neutral and candid.

In his remarks, the Bauchi state Chapter Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Umar Sa’idu commended the Global Center for Media and Human Empowerment (GCMHE) for collaborating with the union to carry out the training in Bauchi state.

Comrade Sa’idu who assured that the Bauchi state council of the NUJ under his leadership is very much ready to accommodate more of such trainings to the benefit of his members, urged the participants to make good utilization of the knowledge gained for the betterment of the society.

“I am very sure that the media has a great role to play, not only towards the successful election in the country but at least toward having a better society”, he said.

According to him, Journalists in Bauchi deserves commendation for doing a wonderful job so far, as the NUJ has not recorded any complain against any of them in the state regarding political coverage.

He advised his members to sustain the tempo by adhering to the ethics of the profession, adding that some of the participants may be considered for the subsequent trainings.

Comrade Umar Sa’idu said no fewer than 25 Journalists also received training on health reporting in a one day training workshop held at the Bauchi state Secretariat of the NUJ same day.

In a closing remark, the Director of Press, Mallam Sulaiman Alhassan Dambam thanked the Center and the NUJ for considering Journalists in Bauchi for the training.

Dambam who noted that Journalists have a vital role of educating the voters, added that Journalists also provides the platform for the politicians to send their messages to the public.

“We provide the platform for the electorates to express their opinions, so we have a lot of work to do as far as the election process is concerned”, the Director Press noted.