The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, has urged journalists across the South-East to uphold responsible and ethical journalism as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Mefor made the call at a capacity-building programme for journalists in the South-East, organised by the Nigerian Press Council, with the theme, “From Inflammatory Rhetoric to National Cohesion: Redefining Mass Communication Practice in the Age of Electoral Conflict.”
The commissioner described the training as timely, stressing that journalists must remain professional and exercise caution in their reporting as the country approaches another election cycle.
He warned against sensationalism, noting that the choice of words in news reports could inflame emotions, heighten tensions and undermine peaceful coexistence.
“When you say people died, it is different from saying people were massacred. In both cases, people died, but that word ‘massacred’ is what we mean by sensationalising. You are nuancing the report to elicit certain feelings,” he said.
According to Mefor, responsible journalism requires reporting facts accurately without unnecessarily inflaming public passions. He maintained that reports capable of provoking discord and threatening national unity fail the professional test, even when the information presented is factual.
He also drew attention to the Cybercrime Act, cautioning journalists about the potential legal consequences of their online publications and warning that a single social media post could jeopardise their freedom.
Mefor further cautioned against announcing election results prematurely while voting was still ongoing, noting that such reports could mislead the public, create confusion and undermine the credibility of the electoral process and the institution responsible for conducting it.
The commissioner emphasised that journalists depend on a peaceful and stable environment to discharge their professional responsibilities, stressing the connection between ethical reporting and national security.
“We need a state, we need a country to be able to practise. If you report and we lose our state and lose our country, we can’t practise in Sambisa Forest,” he said.
He urged journalists to recognize their responsibility in promoting peace, national cohesion and democratic stability through balanced, accurate and responsible reporting, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
