The Federal Government has noted that sensational reporting can inadvertently glorify terrorist acts and spread fear, adding that misinformation and fake news can be as damaging as the acts which must be avoided at all cost.
Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris disclosed this on Tuesday at this significant training workshop for Defence Correspondents and Reporters dedicated to “Effective Reporting Towards Strengthening Alternatives to Terrorist Ideologies.”
According to him, “The media holds an immense power to influence minds, shape narratives, and promote peace. In the fight against terrorism, the media can either undermine or bolster our collective efforts to provide alternatives to extremist ideologies.
“Terrorism is not merely a physical threat; it is an ideological battle of the mind with the extremist groups exploiting vulnerabilities, spreading fear, and propagating messages that present them as fighting for a social cause, in order to further their depraved agenda.
“To counter this, we must offer compelling, positive alternatives that resonate with the same audiences targeted by terrorists. Therefore, through your reports, images, and commentaries, you have the unique ability to educate, inform, and inspire resilience among the public
“To achieve this, the media should continue to project successful initiatives, programmes of NCTC and ONSA that counter radicalization as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant terrorists into the community”, he said.
He said, “At all times, the media should uphold the ethics of journalism by being objective, fair, guard against sensationalism and must also respect the dignity of victims and affected communities and void language that could be construed as biased or inflammatory”.
The Minister noted that sensational reporting can inadvertently glorify terrorist acts, spread fear. “Similarly, misinformation and fake news can be as damaging as the terrorist acts themselves. You must avoid this at all cost”.
He reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to free and responsible journalism.
The Minister commended the NCTC and, in particular, the Office of the National Security Adviser, for their proactive efforts in the fight against terrorism as well as the numerous successful rescue operations of kidnap victims, which are devoid of publicity. “Thank you for your dedication and service to the nation”, Idris said.
In his keynote address, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu said this training is part of efforts in response to the call of the United Nations Secretary General’s Plan of Action for member states to develop and implement a national communication strategy.
And to ensure the dissemination of positive content across a wide range of media both traditional and digital platforms to counter terrorist appeals and violent extremist narrative.
He said, “Information is power”, and strongly believe this saying, adding that the kind of information process, and the way, manner it was communicated should be matters of great concern hence information could be functional with positive expectations.
“Or dysfunctional with consequences that are negative and life threatening; the media as conveyor belt of information can therefore influence either positively or negatively. The press is capable of exercising power in favour of the state or in favour of the enemies of the state.
Ribadu urged media practitioners to always be mindful of this statement above in the discharge of their responsibilities in order to expose societal ills, suspicious characters and activities, garnering support for the government to be able to tackle challenges.
He stated that Terrorist groups continued to provide dysfunctional information through social media platforms, networking sites, and online propaganda including mainstream and traditional mediums of communication in such manner appealing for easy recruitment.
“Especially among the youths; this is a situation that we must jointly combat to attain a safe and peaceful society that will guarantee sustainable socioeconomic development.
“To achieve this, the media practitioners must produce contents that would counter or prevent the appeals of terrorism and other non-state armed groups.
“Indeed, there is the need for robust media campaigns against terrorism, violent extremism and all other forms of organized crime that threatening corporate existence as a country”, the National Security Adviser said.