In a significant move to bolster responsible media coverage, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, has concluded a two-day training for journalists and media practitioners on ethical journalism and child rights reporting.
The workshop, held in Port Harcourt, brought together journalists, editors, and media advocates from across the South-South, South-East, and North-Central zones of Nigeria with the aim to strengthen ethical standards and deepen understanding of responsible reporting on children, ensuring media practices align with legal and ethical frameworks.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, officially welcomed the participants, emphasizing the high value UNICEF places on the media as a crucial partner.
Represented by Susan Akila, a UNICEF Communication Specialist, Saeed stated that the agency believes children often lack a voice, and the media is uniquely positioned to speak on their behalf. She urged participants to use the training to sharpen their reporting skills on issues affecting children.
‘We believe the media are the foot soldiers, important not just to UNICEF but to the children of Nigeria. This training ensures journalists do not report children in harm’s way, and that perpetrators of child injustice are not left unreported and unpunished,’ she said.
In his keynote address, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Port Harcourt, Mr. Anselem Audu, described the media as a powerful force capable of shaping public perception and influencing the well-being of children.
He noted that while the media holds the power to amplify children’s voices and highlight their struggles, it must also exercise great responsibility to ensure that reporting does not harm or exploit the very subjects it seeks to protect.
He elaborated on three key reasons ethical journalism matters: building trust, protecting the vulnerable, and enhancing professional credibility. He warned that in Nigeria’s fragile context, marked by insecurity and social tension, responsible reporting can cool tempers and foster peace, while irresponsible reporting can inflame passions with devastating consequences.
Audu specifically cautioned against sensational or exploitative reporting that exposes child victims to further trauma, stigmatisation, or ridicule.
‘A sensational headline about a child might sell your paper, but an ethical story protects that child’s right to a future free from shame and harm,’ he advised, while encouraging journalists to prioritise fact-checking, fairness, and empathy, urging them to always ask, ‘Am I protecting the vulnerable in this story?’ and to let the best interest of the child be a non-negotiable principle.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa, the Assistant Director and Head of CRIB, Temitoye Falayi, urged participants to reflect on their ethical obligations.
He described the training as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen media capacity and promote a culture of ethical child-focused reporting in Nigeria.
‘Every image, every word and every frame we publish can have lasting consequences on a child’s life, safety and future. Together, let’s reaffirm our commitment to a media landscape that not only informs but also protects and empowers.’
He commended UNICEF for its consistent partnership and support in promoting children’s welfare across Nigeria, noting, ‘There’s no time we have called on UNICEF for assistance on issues concerning children that they have not stood by us.’
The two-day training session featured in-depth presentations, case studies, and group discussions.
Key topics covered included an overview of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and ethical principles in reporting children’s issues by Dr. Geoffrey Njoku, Communication, Advocacy and Development Consultant; foundations of child rights by Dr. Jide Johnson; balancing public interest with child protection by Lekan Sote; and drafting newsroom guidelines on child reporting by Prof. Charles Obot.
Participants are expected to develop practical strategies from the workshop to promote balanced, factual, and compassionate reporting on children’s issues, ultimately creating a safer and more supportive environment for Nigeria’s children.