Israel Umoh
Journalists in Akwa Ibom State have been urged to verify allegations and anonymous messages before publication to protect the credibility of their media and avoid tarnishing the reputation of people.
The Regional Editor of Premium Times, South South and South East Regions, Mr. Cletus Ukpong made the call during a one-day symposium organised by Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom Council, in collaboration with Akwa Ibom Judiciary, on theme: Effective Crime and Court Reporting: The Role of the Media in the Administration of Justice.
Ukpong reasoned that ‘‘Everybody can publish. But you know what? Not everybody can verify. And that is precisely why journalism still matters. I don’t mean what some people call Citizens journalist.’’
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Presenting a paper on the topic: Balancing the desire for breaking news and fair, factual reporting — while protecting victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons, Mr. Ukpong stressed the need for journalists to provide factual, fair and accurate reports while protecting victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons.
‘‘Today, a rumour can acquire thousands of witnesses simply because thousands of people forwarded it. An old video can become a new crime. A crime committed elsewhere can mysteriously relocate to Akwa Ibom before breakfast. The professional journalist must therefore perform the unfashionable act of checking.
‘‘Who said it? Where did it happen? When? What is the original source? Has the relevant authority confirmed it? What exactly is before the court? What has actually been decided? And, perhaps most importantly: who could be harmed if I get this wrong?’’
On breaking of news, he likened it to an adrenaline business when ‘Something has happened, stating ‘‘As a journalist, you will experience excitement, urgency, fear of missing out.’’
According to him, the truth is that breaking news creates three newsroom pressures: Fear of Missing Out, Deadline pressure (The editor wants it in 10 minutes), Competitive pressure (Another reporter already has it too), and Ego (I want my name on the story so that when people rush to read, they see my name).
He encouraged journalists to ask critical questions when handling breaking news: ‘‘What happened? Where did it happen? Who could be affected or harmed by the report?’’
He warned against sensational or misleading headlines, noting that headlines must accurately reflect the content of a report and should not exaggerate facts simply to attract attention.
The Regional Editor asked professionals to Verify → Publish → Update, and not: ‘‘Hear → Publish → Apologise,’’ pointing out ‘‘The secret is knowing what must be established before publication and what can wait for subsequent updates.’’
According to him, if a journalist misses a breaking story, there would be another story tomorrow, noting ‘‘If another journalist beats you by 10 minutes, there will be another competition tomorrow.
‘‘But if you destroy someone’s reputation with a false allegation, expose a witness to danger, identify a vulnerable victim unnecessarily, publish a false death, or contaminate the administration of justice, you cannot simply press delete and make the harm disappear.
‘‘Remember, your byline is not just your name. It is a promise. A promise that says: I checked, I was fair, I did not turn an allegation into a fact, I did not exploit someone’s pain for clicks, I did not sacrifice truth because I wanted to be first, And when I made a mistake, I corrected it.
‘‘Finally, be the first if you can but be right at all costs. That is the standard I would ask every journalist in the room to carry back to the newsroom.’’
He advised journalists to contact relevant authorities, including the Police, State Security Service and appropriate government officials, whenever necessary to confirm facts. Where new information emerges, he urged journalists to update their reports and correct errors transparently.
The journalism professional also emphasised the need to protect victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons, urging journalists to avoid revealing identifying details that could expose individuals to further harm, stigma, retaliation or public humiliation.
He, therefore, urged journalists to verify viral post, graphic image with uncertain origin, an allegation without attribution, information that could expose a vulnerable person to serious harm and or a story that cannot be defended if challenged.
The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Christopher Ekong commended the union for insightful leadership and emphasized the importance of collaboration among the media, security agencies and other stakeholders in ensuring accurate and responsible reporting.
Professor Ekong, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, explained that effective crime and court reporting requires journalists understanding that information obtained from security agencies may not necessarily be the same as what eventually emerges during court proceedings.
He emphasised the need for experience in court proceedings, and urged journalists to focus on the specific case before the court and provide the appropriate legal context rather than merely reproducing claims made by security agencies or other sources.
Highlighting some theoretical foundations of media practice, including the Fourth Estate theory and framing theory, he drew attention to the Nigerian legal framework governing freedom of expression, freedom of the press and access to information.
On the principles journalists must observe, he identified accuracy and verification as fundamental requirements, and urged journalists to carefully verify names, dates, case numbers, court filings and claims attributed to the Police or other security agencies before publication.
Ekong also cautioned journalists to distinguish properly between suspects, accused persons and convicted persons, stressing that an accused person must not be presented as guilty until the court has established guilt against the person.
Journalists, he said, must provide adequate context when reporting cases, including whether a matter has been adjourned, whether judgment has been delivered and whether an appeal has been filed.
The Academic warned journalists against presenting arguments made by lawyers as though they were decisions of the court, enjoining them to clearly distinguish between submissions by parties and the reasons or decisions given by judges.
He also cautioned against sensational headlines and the publication of unverified information circulating on social media, stressing that journalists must avoid reports capable of scandalising the court or undermining the integrity of judicial proceedings.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the union, Comrade Nsibiet John, had stressed the importance of continuous professional development for journalists, particularly in specialised areas such as crime and court reporting.
John noted that the nature of crime and court reporting requires journalists to possess adequate knowledge of legal procedures, verification and ethical standards, given the consequences that inaccurate reports can have on individuals, institutions and the administration of justice.
