Participants at the 9th Africa Conference on Development Journalism have stressed the need for the media to discard sensationalism for solution journalism in order to create more constructive public discourse and empower communities towards solving social issues.
The challenge is part of the communique of the 9th Africa Conference on Development Journalism with the theme “Media, Inclusive Development: A Call to Action For Africa’s Future” held in Kaduna, North West, Nigeria.
The Communique which was signed by Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Chairman NUJ Kaduna State Council, Zubair Abdurrau’f Idris, Executive Director WADATA Media and Advocacy Centre and Sekyen Dadik, Executive Director AMDF said Africa must urgently rethink the role of the media in shaping a future that is inclusive, secure and people oriented.
Africa’s inclusive growth, the Communique further observed, will remain a mirage unless media amplify marginalized voices, deepen accountability and embrace modern story-telling tools that bridge widening information gaps across the continent.
The Communique wants the media to bring to the fore through transparent strategic communication which is a tool for social change, the prevailing insecurity, poverty and gender inequality, especially in the North as well as institutional fragility and issues of corruption in the country as a whole .
The participants resolved that the nation must intentionally create opportunities where young people are not merely beneficiaries but co-creators, co-leaders and co-architects of development.
This, the Communique said, is inevitable as no nation can attain sustainable development where women and young people remain outside the corridor of economic participation.
The Communique also tasked the media to expand its lenses to capture the full spectrum of the youths’ experience and not sensational headlines that portray young people as perpetrators of crime.
Journalists’ mental health, the participants resolved, must be prioritized, with training on trauma management and mental health support; recognizing the traumatic nature of their work and the need for resilience-building strategies to mitigate the impact of stress and trauma.
There must be a strong collaboration between the media, universities, government, and civil society to address development challenges and promote transparency and accountability.
Funding for media organizations, the Communique emphasized, should be transparent to enable editorial independence, strengthen public trust, and support sustainable development across African countries.
“The Communique encourages academics, development experts and journalists to continue partnering with AMDF to strengthen home-grown knowledge and media capacity.
It applauds the AMDF Journalist of the Year Contest which aims at encouraging high quality reportage that addresses development challenges and promotes transparency, accountability and good governance in Africa.
Participants Commend the AMDF for its consistency in organizing the conference which aptly addresses issues facing the practices of contemporary development Journalism in the continent.
The Communique acknowledges partners including Sightsavers Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), Kaduna State Ministry of information, Kaduna State Media Corporation, (KSMC) and Daily Trust Foundation for supporting the conference.
