Rahab Yusuf
Journalists in Kano State have been urged to uphold the highest standards of ethical journalism, ensure balanced election coverage, and prioritize their personal safety while reporting political campaigns and the forthcoming general elections.
The call was made on Wednesday by veteran journalists during a one-day capacity-building workshop on political campaign reporting, election coverage, and journalists’ safety organized by the Kano Online Media Chapel (KOMC) with support from the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation.
The training, held at the Conference Hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Kano, attracted journalists from print, broadcast, and online media organizations across the state.
The knowledge transfer workshop was designed to strengthen media practitioners’ capacity to deliver accurate, fair, and conflict-sensitive election coverage while equipping them with practical safety measures for reporting in potentially volatile political environments.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Kano Online Media Chapel, Comrade Abdulkar Dangombo, said the initiative was timely, considering the increasing political activities ahead of the elections.
According to him, the training seeks to sharpen journalists’ professional skills, promote ethical reporting, and enhance their safety while covering political events.
“Kano politics is often characterised by tension and, at times, violence. Journalists must be conscious of their safety while carrying out their constitutional responsibility of informing the public,” Dangombo said.
“We must avoid sensationalism, verify every piece of information before publication, demand accountability from political candidates, and use our platforms to promote peaceful coexistence, credible elections, and public trust in the democratic process.”
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation, Suleiman Jalo described responsible journalism as a cornerstone of democratic governance, noting that supporting media capacity development is an investment in accountability, transparency, and informed citizen participation.
He stressed that professional election reporting contributes significantly to peaceful electoral processes and strengthens public confidence in democratic institutions.
Representatives of various professional bodies also delivered goodwill messages, including the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), representatives of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU), Executive Director of YOSPIS, Zainab Nasir Ahmad, Chairman of KANET, Barrister Nura, and the publisher of Solace Base, Abdullatif Abubakar Jos.
The speakers unanimously emphasized the need for credible, balanced, and issue-based reporting before, during, and after the elections.
They urged journalists to resist political pressure, reject misinformation and hate speech, uphold professional ethics, and contribute to peaceful and violence-free elections through responsible journalism.
Leading the first technical session on ethical and responsible election reporting as well as journalists’ safety, veteran journalist and a National Trustee of the NUJ, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, took the journalists through Ethical, Responsible, Campaign, Election Reporting, and journalists’ safety.
Comrade Abbas underscored the media’s critical role in safeguarding electoral integrity.
He advised journalists to provide equal opportunities for all political parties and candidates to present their programs while rigorously scrutinizing campaign promises and public claims to promote transparency and accountability.
Comrade Abbas also highlighted practical safety measures for journalists covering political rallies and election-day activities, urging media professionals to conduct risk assessments, remain vigilant, and prioritize their personal security while carrying out their assignments.
In another presentation, the CEO/Publisher of Stallion Times, Isiyaku Ahmed, delivered a session on fact-checking and combating election misinformation.
He emphasized that the proliferation of fake news, manipulated content, and disinformation poses a serious threat to credible elections, urging journalists to strengthen verification processes before publishing any election-related information.
The Stallion Times publisher encouraged participants to utilise digital fact-checking tools, rely on credible sources, and maintain accuracy, fairness, and impartiality in their reports.
Comrade Ahmed noted that responsible journalism remains one of the most effective safeguards against misinformation and electoral manipulation.
The publisher of Indaranka, Kabiru Fulatan, described the workshop as timely and impactful, expressing confidence that the knowledge acquired would enhance their professionalism and preparedness for comprehensive, ethical, and conflict-sensitive coverage of the forthcoming general elections.
