The Nigerian media industry has adopted a new co-regulation and code of ethics to address ethical and professional concerns in the industry. The decision was reached at the end of a media roundtable organised on Monday, November 14 by various stakeholders in the media industry.
According to Media chiefs at the roundtable, the success of the co-regulation would be achieved through a workable enforcement mechanism. To achieve co-regulation, the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO) comprising NPAN, NGE, and NUJ, along with BON, would work together to make the co-regulation system effective, particularly through the establishment of the ombudsman at local and central levels.
In a communique issued at the end of the media roundtable jointly signed by the president Nigerian Press Organisation (NPAN/NPO), Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, president, of the Nigerian Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Chief Chris Isiguzo, among others, the media chiefs noted that efforts must be made to avoid the creation of bureaucratic structures that may have high-cost implications and therefore constitute obstacles to the efficient operation of the ombudsman.
The communique said that the sanctions for the violation of ethical codes and professional standards shall be determined by the Ombudsman, guided by the regulation.
The round table is coming against the background of attacks on press freedom and media independence including through legislation by the government following the wrong perception that the media is unwilling to regulate itself; the poor state of compliance with ethical and professional standards by some journalists and editors; and the pollution of the information sphere by disinformation and misinformation.
