The federal government has called on media organisations and practitioners to strengthen ethical journalism to protect the rights of children and safeguard the vulnerable.
Speaking at a two-day training of media practitioners on ethical journalism and children’s rights reporting in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ogbodo Nnam, represented by Temitoye Falayi, emphasised the vital role journalists play in shaping public understanding and influencing attitudes.
Nnam stressed that the media has immense power, but with that power comes a profound responsibility to report with integrity, sensitivity, and respect for human dignity.
He noted that this responsibility becomes even greater when reporting on stories involving children, as every image, word, and frame published can have lasting consequences on a child’s life, safety, and future.
“The media holds immense power – the power to inform, to inspire, and to hold institutions accountable. But with that power comes a profound responsibility: to report with integrity, sensitivity, and respect for human dignity.
“When it comes to stories involving children, that responsibility becomes even greater. Every image, every word, and every frame we publish can have lasting consequences on a child’s life, safety, and future.
“Through open discussion, case studies, and shared experiences, we aim to build a media culture that protects children’s identities, amplifies their voices responsibly, and upholds the highest ethical standards,” he said.
In her keynote address, the UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, emphasised the imperative of ethical reporting about children to ensure their rights are not compromised in the pursuit of catchy headlines.
She stated that ethical reporting is not just a professional standard but a moral imperative, ensuring children are portrayed with dignity, their stories told with care, and their rights never compromised.
“At UNICEF, we believe that every child has the right to be seen, heard, and protected. Ethical reporting is not just a professional standard; but it is a moral imperative.
“It is about ensuring that children are portrayed with dignity, that their stories are told with care, and that their rights are never compromised in the pursuit of headlines or money-making.
“Our expectation is clear: that you leave this training not only with new skills but with a renewed commitment to uphold the highest standards of journalism, especially when it comes to children. We hope you will become champions of ethical reporting in your newsrooms and communities, setting an example for others to follow,” she said.
Lafoucriere charged media practitioners to leave the training with new skills and a renewed commitment to uphold the highest standards of journalism, especially when it comes to children, and become champions of ethical reporting in their newsrooms and communities.
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