INT’L PRESS CENTER TRAINS ONDO ONLINE JOURNALISTS ON FACT-CHECKING, REPORTING SKILLS AHEAD 2027 ELECTIONS
The International Press Center has trained online journalists in Ondo State to ensure professionalism and accuracy as the 2027 general elections approach.
The training which was held on Friday at Royal Birds Hotel in Akure the state capital had in attendance resource persons from strategic backgrounds to justify the reason for the training.
They include Adegbenro Adebanjo, a veteran journalist who is currently the Director of Corporate Communications in the Federal University of Technology, Akure who focused on scanning electoral environment and reporting citizens priority concerns.
Also on the list was a digital media expert, Mr Daniel Dabo whose paper was titled AI and Digital Journalism: Leveraging Technology for Credible Election Coverage.
Similarly, a fact-checking expert, Olusola Oludiran from Nigerian Democratic Report took the online journalists on Integrating fact-checking for democratic and accountability report as well as basic fact-checking tools and techniques.
Participants were widely exposed to different digital journalism tools as the resource persons prioritised value of verification, verification practices, observing professional standards and making political players and public institutions accountable.
Participants were charged to integrate them into daily activities to prevent misinformation, disinformation and practices that could make the build-up to the election as well as the process questionable.
Earlier, the Executive Director of International Press Center, Mr Lanre Arogundade had noted that the programme recognises the roles of journalists in ensuring transparency and active participation and democratic accountability.
Represented by Stella Nwofia, the Executive Director urged media practitioners to adhere to professional standards and ensure accurate reporting.
He added that the journalists should help ensure credible electoral process and facilitate public trust in democratic institutions.
