Ogun state government collaborates with United Nations Children’s Fund to train journalists on coronavirus reportage
The Ogun State Ministry of Information and Strategy in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday organized one-day training for reporters on coronavirus, as well as their roles in reportage.
Penpushing reports that, the media orientation has participants which cut across the electronic media, and took place at the hall of Press Centre, Iwe-Iroyin, Abeokuta, and was declared open by Governor Dapo Abiodun who was represented by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Remmy Hazzan.
The session treated the basic facts about coronavirus, which focused on the status of the coronavirus disease in Nigeria, what Nigeria is doing to combat the pandemic, as well as using health data to tell a story and correct information and helpful insight.
Penushing further reports that, the first lecture, ”basic facts about coronavirus disease’ was delivered by a Public Health Specialists, Dr (Mrs) Funke Adesina, while the second topic, ’media’s role in the outbreak response’, was delivered by Florence Molokwu, Senior State Facilitator on Vaccine Security Communication
The focal person United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ministry of Information, Lanre Ogunyinka in his opening speech gave insight to the need for the training, explaining that, journalists contributions and vitality to the socio economic emancipation of the citizenry in every society that aims development, peace and progress cannot be overemphasized.
The Chairman Social Mobilization and Technical Committee added that, every stage of governance , there is always the need to know by the citizenry, stressing that, ’not only to know, but to be appropriately informed in an effective communication process to achieve the expected feedback.
‘That is the enormous power of the process, thus press is always a vital partner and veritable stakeholder to get the people activate the appropriate behavioural change or attitude to achieve any desired goal or objective’, he stated
Penpushing also reports that, Ogunyinka pointed out that the media is needed at this pandemic period, warning that this is not the time for sensationalism in writing and reporting, stressing that the task involved is purely developmental journalism.
The focal person said, media is also consider constructive and systemic reporting with an ultimate aim to harness peope’s positive attention to curb the pandemic and not to further scare the public, nor give them unnecessarily tension.
‘The press has a role to play professionally and in a manner to help enlightening the people, why they must do what instructions given at this time for a better society’, Ogunyinka emphasized.
Penpushing reports that notable media veteran and guru at the training session include: Eddy Aina (former Director National Broadcasting Commission and Member Editorial Board Penpushing Media),Dr Goke Rauf(former Director School of Communications, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic , Abeokuta and member Editorial Board Penpushing Media), Mrs Omolara Adeyinka(Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists) Opeoluwa Kilaso(General Manager, Family F.M Radio station) Abiodun Awere(Permanent Secretary Ogun State Ministry of Information and Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji(Founder, Penpushing Media) among others
