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IPC trains online journalists, bloggers; urges them to help checkmate hate speech and conflicts
By: Ikenna Oluka
The International Press Centre (IPC) has trained thirty-five (35) online journalists and bloggers on Sensitive Conflicting Reporting, as part of the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project.
Explaining the objectives of the Workshop held on September 20 and 21, 2018, in Abuja, the Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said that with the 2019 general elections approaching, it became necessary to inundate participants on the rules of engagement with regards to elections reporting and conflicts therein.
The Director who was represented by Stella Nwofia, programme coordinator at IPC, referred participants, drawn mainly from North-East, North-Central, South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria, to section four (4) of the Nigerian Media Code of Election Report (revised edition 2018) where ‘Hate Speech’ was singled out as a menace in online reporting and elections conflicts.
He identified the training as necessary because the online environment now occupies a very central place in the media.
According to the Executive Director (ED), online media has become the converging point for all the traditional and conventional media such as radio, television and the Print.
Mr. Arogundade, said, although Nigeria has a large population of internet users, and as a result there is a rapid increase in the number of journalists offering to practise online to reach this ‘Internet or online population’, however, the activities of the practitioners should help checkmate the menace of hate speech and conflicts in the country.
Stella Nwofia, programme coordinator at IPC
“What all this means is that we simply cannot ignore what goes on Online in the name of journalism especially against the background of growing perception that online media and social media platforms are the major harbingers of hate speech and stokers of inciting flames”, the Director said.
He continued: “In general, it is feared that in the realm of politics, violent conflict during elections could occur if online journalism practitioners and bloggers refuse to embrace conflict sensitive principles. The emerging consensus therefore is that online journalists and bloggers need to strive to do better so they could be part of efforts that seek to remove hate narratives from political communication as a way of making the electoral environment healthier.
“In the above regard, it is expected that this training will help participants to understand and imbibe the principles of fairness, diversity and objectivity in reporting the electoral process and the elections”.
He said that the Centre expects the online media practitioners to use their platforms for fair, balanced report, language sensitive and conflict sensitive reporting of the elections.
In her presentation on ‘Understanding Conflict, its Nature and Character’, Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University, Kano State, described conflicts as a natural and inevitable occurrence orchestrated by perceived threats while mutual respects is the antidote.
Dr. Ruqayyah Aliyu classified conflicts into seven; namely: intrapersonal, inter-personal, Intra-group, party factions, Inter-group, intra-society and international conflicts.
Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University, Kano State,
On hate speech and fake news, she urged online media practitioners to be abreast of the cardinals of journalism to guide against escalating the scourge which is capable of causing breakdown of law and order in the entire country.
She cautioned the practitioners from sourcing news from social media, especially without verifiable sources.
According to the Facilitator, identified embellished news reports with tribal, ethnic and religious undertone are purveyors of conflicts in the Nigerian setting.
Similarly, the Executive Director, CITAD, Kano, Dr. Y.Z. Ya’u, facilitated discussions on ‘Contemporary Conflicts in Nigeria and Possible Impact on Media Coverage of 2019 General Elections’, urging all stakeholders to work harmoniously towards conflict-minimised 2019 general elections.
“Online journalists in particular must not fail to uphold peace through reporting, especially those that fuel conflicts like Boko Haram, Political-thugs, IPOB, etc.
“You are required to be very careful about certain colourations which tend to depict individuals in the form of Hate Speech. For instance, some individuals are reported in the media as sympathisers of Boko Haram, IPOB, Militants, etc.
Executive Director, CITAD, Kano, Dr. Y.Z. Ya’u,
“It is important to understand the root or what the conflict is all about before reporting to avoid inflammatory reportage.
He however, warned that the fear of fake News should not incapacitate journalists from carrying out their duties effectively.
“The answer to it is investigative journalism as today fake organisations are issuing press releases to incite people against others”, the ED of CITAD, Kano, said.
Leading a session on ‘Social Media & Elections: Giving Practical Effect to Conflict Sensitive Reporting Online’, the Editor-In-Chief, Premium Times, Abuja, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, advocated for fair and balanced news reporting by the practitioners.
He also cautioned against hate speech and conflict-inducing headlines. “Therefore, the need to be cautious has risen, especially when we cast headlines; as conflict can be triggered by ambiguity in communication intended by the journalist involved.
Mr Mojeed, added: “Thus, when issues arise in the society, journalists can provide parties with the information that convoke wise decisions in managing and resolving conflicts. Always remember that your ‘business’ thrives only when Nigeria is peaceful,”
Editor-In-Chief, Premium Times, Abuja, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed,
He went further to enumerate how online journalists can make a difference in the profession.
The Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, further urged the participants to “Be proactive and careful with translation (intended meaning or language) and be explicit about reporting constraints. Also, interview people affected by conflict and don’t use offensive, graphic images, videos, etc.
Group photograph
News
The Peruvian Government Has Officially Classified Transgender, Nonbinary And Intersex People As “Mentally ill”
According to the country’s ministry of health, the controversial decision was made to ensure the country’s public health services could “guarantee full coverage of medical attention for mental health” for the trans community.
It also categorises “dual-role transvestitism,” “fetishistic transvestism,” and “other gender identity disorders” under the same bracket of mental illness.
The new law will change language in the Essential Health Insurance Plan (PEAS) to reflect the view of trans and intersex people as a mental health disorder.
Trans groups across Peru have loudly condemned the decision as a step backwards for the country’s already complex relationship with LGBTQ+ rights.
News
Math Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With 2 Students And Getting Pregnant For One Tearfully Reveals The Baby Was Taken Away From Her
The UK teacher who had a baby with an underage student while on trial for having sex with another teenage boy broke down in court after revealing her newborn baby girl had been “taken away” from her.
Manchester math teacher Rebecca Joynes, 30, sobbed to jurors over how her baby was taken “24 hours after being born” this past January — and now she only sees her for nine hours a week, Joynes told jurors on Monday, May 13, according to the Manchester Evening News.
“At the moment I have contact with her three times a week for three hours and that’s it,” she said through tears.
Joynes was arrested and released on bail on orders not to have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 after allegedly grooming her pupil, known as Boy A in court, by buying him a $430 Gucci belt before bringing him to her apartment for unprotected sex.
She was suspended from school and eventually fired, but soon after, she began having a relationship with a 15-year-old boy, known in court as Boy B, whom she had a baby with in January.
Joynes, who has denied having sex with either boy when they were underage, told the court that when she learned of the allegations against her she had gone to the second boy in a “panic” and he deleted all of her phone’s content.
The former teacher denied having a sexual relationship with the second boy until after he turned 16 and she was already suspended from teaching.
According to her narration,
She said he had added her on Snapchat twice, which she only accepted the second time because she thought he “wanted to tell her something.”
Joynes said a friendship developed and he quickly became her “best friend” even though the boy would make flirtatious and sexualized comments toward her when he was drunk.
She told jurors that it wasn’t until after his 16th birthday that he messaged her saying “I’ve left school now” with a winky face.
After she received notice that she had been dismissed from her job, he went to her apartment, where following an emotional conversation, they had sex.
The two then entered a relationship that Joynes described as “quite toxic” telling the court how the teenager was “very controlling.”
After discovering she was pregnant, Joynes hid love notes for the boy to find around her apartment.
The notes eventually led to a piece of baby clothing that had the words “I love my daddy to the moon and back” written on it.
The court was told that she gave birth to their baby girl in January, but following an emergency court hearing, the newborn was taken away from Joynes.
Joynes has denied two counts of sexual activity with Boy A; two counts of sexual activity with Boy B; and two counts of sexual activity with Boy B while being a person in a position of trust.
Her trial is ongoing.
The first Man to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has died two months after the operation.
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which carried out the procedure in March, announced Sunday, May 12, that Richard “Rick” Slayman, 62, has died.
They said there was no indication his death was a result of the transplant.
Transplants of other organs from genetically modified pigs have failed in the past, but the operation on Mr Slayman, who was suffering with end-stage kidney disease, was hailed as a historic milestone.
In addition to kidney disease, Mr Slayman also suffered from Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
In 2018, he had a human kidney transplant, but it began to fail after five years.
Following his pig kidney transplant on March 16, his doctors confirmed he no longer needed dialysis after the new organ was said to be functioning well.
“Mr Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” MGH said in a statement.
Xenotransplantation is the transplanting of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another.
MGH said it was “deeply saddened” at his sudden death and offered condolences to his family.
Mr Slayman’s relatives said his story was an inspiration.
“Rick said that one of the reasons he underwent this procedure was to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” they said.
“Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever.
“To us, Rick was a kind-hearted man with a quick-witted sense of humour who was fiercely dedicated to his family, friends, and co-workers,” they added.
While Mr Slayman received the first pig kidney to be transplanted into a human, it is not the first pig organ to be used in a transplant procedure.
Two other patients have received pig heart transplants, but those procedures were unsuccessful as the recipients died a few weeks later.
In one case, there were signs the patient’s immune system had rejected the organ, which is a common risk in transplants.
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