By Abba Dukawa
The International Press Centre (IPC), has concluded a two day capacity building training for selected Journalists on Safety and Digital Security in Kano.
The centre, said the training was designed to improve the overall safety, digital security as well as personal management of Journalists in the occasion of trauma instances while on duty lines.
The capacity-building training, which took place at Chilla Suites Hotel, attracted over 25 Journalists from print, online, and broadcast media stations in the state.
Flagging up the training, the IPC Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arongundade said the capacity-building training becomes necessary concerning the rising threats to press freedom, safety, and security in the country.
According to him the workshop seeks to enhance the capacity of media professionals on measures and mechanisms for ensuring safety and security, especially during investigative reporting, and the coverage of dangerous assignments and conflicts reportage.
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The Head, Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University, Kano Dr. Nura Ibrahim who presented a paper on “Data and Digital Security Related Issues in Investigative Reporting and Coverage of Dangerous Assignments” noted that journalists need to be abreast with various laws and statutory provisions, as it will help in avoiding pitfalls in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Media Expert re-echoed the need for journalists carrying out dangerous assignments to keep personal details and images off social media while developing effective digital security.
Added that economic security, legal security, job security, and physical security, among others, are key factors in ensuring safety and security for investigative journalists.
In her presentation, Dr. Rukayyah Aliyu Bello said investigative journalism is a dangerous assignment that leads to attacks and death adding that when journalists go in-depth in their reporting, he has to be extra careful with their safety than the work.
She said during investigative reporting journalists have to disguise and make their investigation and to have a successful assignment and also journalists to need to be security conscious and maintain safety while discharging their responsibilities.
During covering conflicts which is a dangerous reporting for Journalists, she said extra care has to be made as he only carries a camera as his weapon.
The workshop was organized by International Press Centre (IPC) with support from the MacArthur Foundation, Shehu Yar’adua Foundation, Luminate, Ford Foundation, and OSIWA, on Safety and Security Consciousness Mechanisms in Investigative Reporting and Coverage of Conflicts or Dangerous Assignments.
