Journalists key to democracy, civic engagement, says CAPPA

By Samuel Ogunsona

Journalists have a critical role to play in sustainable democracy beyond just covering elections, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, (CAPPA) has said.

The group commends came after a training for media practitioners organised by the group.

Speaking at the event, CAPPA Executive Director, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi said “Journalists must also inform the public about the aftermath and hold public officials accountable for their actions and promises.”

He said the responsibility is essential in ensuring that those in power remain transparent and truthful to the people who elected them.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) had hosted a webinar training for journalists on the theme “Media Practitioners as Catalysts for Civic Engagement and Democratic Accountability.”

The training, which aimed to equip journalists with the skills and knowledge needed to promote civic engagement and democratic accountability, featured Mr. Joseph Jibueze, Deputy News Editor/Head of Law Desk at The Nation newspaper, as the trainer and facilitator.

Abayomi Sarumi, CAPPA’s Senior Programme Manager for Healthy Food Policy, delivered the opening remarks on behalf of Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director.

Mr. Jibueze defined key concepts, including media practitioners, civic engagement, and democratic accountability. “A media practitioner is a person engaged in writing, editing, or conveying news and public information,” he said.

“Civic engagement involves communities working together or individuals working alone in both political and non-political actions to protect public values or make a change in a community.”

He emphasized the importance of civic engagement, stating that it “means contributing and working to make a difference in the public (or civic) life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and commitment to make that difference.”

Mr. Jibueze also highlighted the role of the media in promoting democratic accountability.

“Democratic accountability hinges on transparency, and the media is the spotlight,” he said.

“As practitioners, we have a responsibility to scrutinize governments, corporations, and institutions. We have a responsibility to ask questions the public can’t always ask directly.” He emphasized.

He noted that accurate and unbiased information is essential for
citizens to make informed decisions.

“Providing citizens with accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive information about government policies, actions, and decisions is crucial,” he said.

Mr. Jibueze emphasized the importance of investigative journalism in uncovering corruption and abuse of power. “Conducting in-depth investigations to uncover corruption, abuse of power, nepotism, and other wrongdoing is essential,” he said.

He also stressed the need for the media to facilitate public debate and discussion. “Offering a platform for diverse voices and experiences to foster public debate and discussion is crucial,” he said.

Mr. Jibueze emphasized the importance of media practitioners in promoting civic engagement and democratic accountability. “We can do this by scrutinizing government actions, monitoring government policies, decisions, and actions, and holding public officials accountable for their actions,” he said.

However, CAPPA has been actively engaging with journalists through various training programs and workshops to promote civic engagement and democratic accountability.

These sessions provided journalists with practical guidance on ethical reporting practices.