Former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra state, Prof. Stella Okunna has emphasized the critical role of fact-checking in the field of journalism.
She asserted that any journalist, especially those involved in investigative reporting, who fails to fact-check their reports, is not suited for the profession.
Prof. Okunna conveyed this message during a one-day training event held in Awka by the Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiative (IMCAI). The workshop, aimed at investigative journalists in the South East, received support from the MacArthur Foundation and was facilitated by Wole Soyinka Investigative Journalism.
In a presentation co-authored with Dr. Henry Duru, a lecturer in the Mass Communication department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Okunna stressed that fact-checking has become an imperative practice in Nigerian journalism.
She emphasized that journalists must verify the accuracy of their stories before publication and highlighted that the benefits of this type of reporting outweigh the risks.
Additionally, Mr. Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, another resource person at the event, in his presentation, emphasized on ethical issues that investigative journalism is a cornerstone of societal development while the Editor-in-Chief of Ikenga online, Mr. Uche Ugboajah, explained that the online platform was established in 2022 to give voice to the Southeast region, addressing the issue of under-reportage.
He stated that the training was part of the organization’s efforts to enhance the capabilities of journalists in the region while promoting good governance, gender equality, and the inclusion of people with disabilities, among other important objectives.
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