Ondo 2024: Experts caution Journalists on dangers of misinformation in election reporting

November 13, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Civil society experts have urged journalists to avoid spreading misinformation during the Ondo State Governorship bye-election, scheduled for November 16, 2024.

At a webinar themed “Misinformation and Elections: Journalists, Public Educators, and Opinion Shapers,” organized by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and the European Union Support For Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU SDGN) II on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, media experts emphasized the media’s critical role in reporting facts and promoting peaceful elections.

Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, noted that reporting should promote peace, not violence, and that journalists must ensure their safety while reporting facts. Oluwafemi emphasized the importance of promoting nonviolent elections and educating the public to vote peacefully.

He said, “The populace is going to turn to the media for direction, for news, for opinion, and again for perception, and it behoves on us as media practitioners to report the facts as the facts,” Oluwafemi said, adding that they should take necessary measures to ensure their safety.

Explaining the importance of the webinar, Oluwafemi added: “We’re essentially doing this to promote nonviolent elections in Nigeria. We think we can continue to engage, and educate our people, to ensure that we vote only with our thumbs and not with guns or cutlasses. So, the media plays a very critical role in this level of engagement.”

Joke Kujenya, Executive of the Media Mentors Journalism Centre, distinguished between misinformation and disinformation, highlighting journalists’ responsibilities in election coverage, fact-checking, and social media monitoring.

Kujenya stressed verifying unbiased facts, educating the public on media literacy, and collaborating with fact-checking organizations.

She said: “Journalists should understand local issues, as well as verify claims before reporting.

“Journalists are also encouraged to monitor elections on platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp and to be vigilant about emerging narratives propagated by trolls,” she added.

Also speaking at the webinar, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC),Mr Lanre Arogundade, noted that 18 political parties had signed a peace accord, and 41,000 security personnel would ensure public safety. Arogundade emphasized journalists’ security and conflict sensitivity, urging them to utilize I-Verify for fact-checking.

He also stressed that Journalists should prioritize conflict-sensitive reporting to avoid spreading harmful or divisive information that may escalate tensions or spark violence.

According to Arogundade, this type of approach requires considering the potential impact of their reporting on different communities and individuals.

He noted that embracing conflict-sensitive reporting, journalists can contribute to a more informed and nuanced public discourse, rather than inadvertently fueling conflicts.

The webinar aimed to promote peaceful elections and responsible reporting. Journalists play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.