The International Press Centre (IPC) has urged online publishers and editors to uphold professional standards, accuracy and accountability in their reportage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made at an Interface and Capacity Building Workshop for Online Publishers on Professional and Accountability Journalism, where the IPC Programme Manager, Stella Nwofia, represented the Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade.
The workshop focused on strengthening the capacity of online media practitioners and promoting responsible journalism, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking at the event, Nwofia acknowledged the importance of the capacity-building initiative, observing that the increasing demand for speed, visibility and audience engagement in digital publishing sometimes comes at the expense of accuracy and professional standards.
She noted that many online publishers in Enugu were experienced journalists who had worked in established media organisations before setting up their independent platforms, stressing the need for continuous professional development to strengthen their operations.
Nwofia expressed optimism that the training would improve participants’ professional capacity, create greater opportunities for online publishers in Enugu and enhance their visibility within the national media landscape.
She assured the organisers that participants would take the lessons seriously, share the knowledge acquired with their staff and incorporate the training into their newsroom practices.
Describing Enugu-based online media practitioners as committed, transparent and experienced professionals, she encouraged them to sustain the values of responsible journalism in their various organisations.
In a presentation titled “2027 General Elections in the Context of Democratic and Accountability Reporting: Scanning the Electoral Environment and Reporting Citizens’ Priority Concerns,” Professor Ifeoma Dunu reminded journalists of their critical responsibility in protecting democracy through credible information and holding elected public officials accountable.
Dunu stressed that journalists serve as the eyes, ears and voice of ordinary citizens, noting that information published by the media is often accepted by members of the public as truth.
She therefore urged media practitioners to handle information responsibly, verify facts and ensure that their reports contribute meaningfully to democratic participation and public accountability.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Corporate Online Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, Clinton Umeh, pledged that online publishers in the state would translate the lessons from the workshop into improved professional and editorial practices.
Umeh described the initiative as an important intervention for independent online media practitioners, many of whom had acquired considerable experience in established media organisations before venturing into independent publishing.
He acknowledged that competition for speed and visibility in the digital media space had increased pressure on publishers to break stories first, sometimes at the expense of accuracy.
According to him, the training would help participants consolidate their existing knowledge, improve the quality of their reports and strengthen the professional standing of Enugu-based online publishers.
He particularly welcomed the opportunity for practitioners in the state to access the kind of professional exposure, networking and collaboration available to online publishers in major media centres such as Lagos and Abuja.
Umeh also assured the organisers that participants would extend the benefits of the training to their employees and other members of their respective organisations.
He explained that independent online publishers largely depend on their capacity, productivity and professional credibility to sustain their businesses, making continuous learning and commitment to ethical journalism essential.
The NUJ Corporate Online Chapel chairman called for the continuation of similar capacity-building programmes, noting that interactions among media practitioners from different parts of the country would encourage collaboration, knowledge-sharing and professional growth.
The workshop forms part of broader efforts to strengthen digital journalism, promote accountability reporting and equip media practitioners to provide credible, balanced and citizens-focused coverage of the 2027 general elections.