A four-day workshop on Reporting Politics and the Economy: The Responsibilities of the Mass Media was held at the Peninsula Resort, Epe Express Road, Ajah, Lagos state from 18th to 21st October, 2005. About 200 participants attended the workshop which was organised by the Nigerian Press Council as part of a series of such training programmes in a bid to enhance the moral tone and professional excellence of the Nigerian Press.
2. Participants at the workshop included line editors on politics and economics; media executive; representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); Non-Governmental Organisations on Media Matters; Journalism Educators; Information Managers and the general public.
3. RECOMMENDATIONS
(i) The workshop called on the Senate to pass the Freedom of Information Bill without further delay.
(ii) The workshop also called for proper funding and strengthening of the Nigerian Press Council to enable it carry out its functional role of promoting professionalism and excellence in the media.
(iii) The workshop recommended that media professionals should have the due sense of responsibility to own up when they are wrong and take necessary actions towards restitution.
(iv) The workshop recommended that journalists should be better remunerated and their welfare package substantially improved to enable them resist the temptation to collect brown envelopes and other forms of gratifications.
(v) The workshop recommended the conveyance of regular training workshops by the Nigerian Press Council to enable the Press keep abreast of developments in the industry.
4. The workshop finally thanked the Federal Government for making funds available to the Nigerian Press Council which enabled the Council to convene the workshop.
5. The workshop noted with respect the honourable Minister’s assurance to study and implement its recommendations.
6. It also extended appreciation to the Federal legislature, especially the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Hon. Halims Agoda who was at the workshop, for their support.
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