Refreshed and
Prepared
PRESS
by Sani Mohammed
Two-Day Embassy
Practical and Virtual
Training Workshop
Hones Journalists Skills
on Election Reporting
T
he U.S. Embassy in Abuja
organized a two-day practical
and virtual training workshop
for political reporters representing
multiple media platforms in Abuja, and
viewing parties at American Spaces in
Ibadan, Calabar, Kano and Bauchi from
November 13 to 14, 2018. The training
was part of the U.S. Mission’s support
to Nigeria on the processes leading up
to the 2019 elections.
Nigeria’s general elections have
been scheduled for February 16, and
March 2, 2019. The United States has
repeatedly said it is not supporting any
candidate, but does support the process,
a point reiterated by U.S. Ambassador
W. Stuart Symington during the
workshop.
Award-winning journalist and Editor-
in-Chief of Premium Times Musikilu
Mojeed led the practical workshop,
while U.S. Speakers Professor Gary
Kebbel, a professor of journalism at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, VOA’s
Managing Editor Aliyu Mustapha,
and his colleague Peter, Clottey, host
of “One-on-One” TV program and
“Nightline Africa” radio program
conducted the virtual workshop for the
two days.
Professor Idachaba, Director,
Broadcast Monitoring at the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
and Barrister Festus Okoye, national
commissioner and chairman,
information and voter education at
the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) made presentations,
refreshing the journalists’ knowledge of
the rules guiding elections reporting.
Musikilu Mojeed, Editor in chief, Premium Times leading the practical workshop
Ambassador Symington said the
world looks up to Nigeria for free, fair,
credible and peaceful election in 2019,
and tasked the journalists to be the
sacred link between citizens and their
leaders.
“In a democracy where there are
freedoms and a nation where there
are citizens, there has to be a two-way
communication connection, and the
media is the sacred conduit connecting
people and their leaders,” Ambassador
Symington stated.
The two-day training included brain-
storming sessions, which gave the
participants the opportunity to review
past election reporting challenges and
to learn best practices from the trainers
both in Washington and in Abuja.
All the trainers and guest speakers
emphasized the need for journalists to
help educate citizens on the election
processes and focus politicians on the
issues. They also advised the journalists
to involve the voters in their reporting,
avoid bias, partisan conduct or opinions
that could jeopardize their safety
during elections and to fact-check their
information and sources for accuracy.
A cross section of participants during the workshop
CROSSROADS | December 2018/January 2019
9