How media organisations can keep away from SLAPP threats in Nigeria

The Worldwide Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria, has educated senior journalists from throughout Northern Nigeria on how one can keep away from Strategic Lawsuits Towards Public Participation (SLAPP), describing it as one of many greatest threats going through media organisations within the nation.

SLAPP are regulation fits supposed to censor, intimidate and silence critics and demanding media organisations by burdening them with the price of a authorized defence within the hopes that they may abandon their criticism or reportage.

The 2-day occasion, which centered on SLAPPs, amongst different key points regarding journalism, happened between 14 and 15 February, on the Tahir Visitor Palace Lodge, Kano, the Kano State capital.

The coaching, themed, ‘Coaching for Senior Journalists on Learn how to Keep away from SLAPP Fits and Stay Moral, with a Concentrate on Media Legislation Ethics, Truth Checking,’ was organised by IPI with the help of MacArthur Basis.

Senior journalists in addition to high media executives and entrepreneurs attended the occasion.

In his opening remarks on the primary day, the President of IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, who can also be the Editor-in-Chief of PREMIUM TIMES, mentioned the injury accomplished by SLAPP has far-reaching results on media professionals within the nation.

Mr Mojeed lamented how some journalists have been routinely harassed, assaulted, incarcerated, and generally killed on account of their work

He cited the 2022 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters With out Borders (RSF), which ranked Nigeria, with 46.79 factors, ranked 129th out of 180 nations surveyed.

“However one of many greatest threats going through a number of key media organisations within the nation presently is the problem of Strategic Lawsuits Towards Public Participation (SLAPP). These are lawsuits directed at media organisations or activists with the only objective of silencing them.

“A number of media shops are being suffocated by SLAPP. In current occasions, at the very least two journalists have been convicted of legal defamation whereas two key unbiased media organisations have had their financial institution accounts frozen and their operations disrupted on account of lawsuits,” Mr Mojeed mentioned.

In his welcome handle, the IPI Nigeria Board Chairman, Kabiru Yusuf, who can also be the writer of Each day Belief, reiterated the necessity for journalists to stay upright because the fourth property of the realm in giving Nigeria a course out of the present hardship within the nation.

He emphasised the necessity to do the appropriate factor at all times to guard the status and character of the media, which he mentioned is outlined by what it reviews.

In his goodwill message, the Director of MacArthur Basis in Nigeria, Cole Shettima, described the work of the IPI as vital to the nation’s democracy empowered by vibrant journalism.

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Members who attended the day occasion applauded the efforts of IPI for giving them a chance to understanding the risks of SLAPP to media and journalism follow in Nigeria.

Amina Amo, the Director of Information at Al’umma Tv Zamfara, whereas talking with PREMIUM TIMES mentioned: “I received excited over the entire thing. This coaching avails me the chance to grasp what Libel is and how one can cope with it.

“This coaching got here on the proper time for us particularly northern editors and journalist. We’re effectively knowledgeable and we are going to take the message again dwelling.”

Completely different periods have been held on each the primary and second days with deal with ‘Media Legislation, Ethics and Truth Checking’.

Amongst those that offered papers on the coaching have been Garba Shehu, a former presidential spokesperson, Yusuf Ali, Yau Sule, Mainasara Kurfi and Tobi Soniyi.