MacArthur Foundation has extended support to PRNigeria in its bid to advance Humanitarian Journalism for Economic Development.

The grant under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion and Accountability was initiated by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) to promote media independence and foster accountability and transparency,, especially at sub-national levels.

This was disclosed at a Media Workshop organised by Image Merchants Promotions Ltd (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential in Abuja for journalists covering security and the economy.

The Editor-in-Chief of PRNigeria, Mr. Yushau Shuaib, said that WSCIJ is partnering with 26 organisations to lend uniqueness to collaborative media engagement.

“We at PRNigeria will focus on Sub National Investigative Reporting on Economic sustainability and Security Project (SNIRESS) for positive impact.

“With a background in Public Relations and Fact-Checking, our brand of journalism is anchored on responsible reporting by exposing inactions for timely reactions to influence positive actions by government and other relevant stakeholders.

“Apart from investigative journalism, like this workshop, we will continue to organise capacity building on economic and security reporting for media professionals as well as post-training mentorship.”

Also speaking at the event, the Head, Northern Operations of the Nation Newspaper, Mallam Yusuf Alli, a seasoned communication scholar, Dr Suleiman Yau’ Sule and veteran economic and journalist, Mr. Ewache Ajaefu, decried the low-level Nigerian journalists engaging in investigative reporting.

According to them, investigative reports have since become the ‘missing gap’ in Nigerian journalism.

Mallam Alli expressed dismay over the worrisome trend of several media professionals and journalists in the country, running away from investigative journalism.

Noting that investigative stories can be done by journalists of every kind of beat. He, therefore, commended PRNigeria for championing reports on Fact-checking on fake news, in recent times.

Alli, an ace investigative editor, urged participants at the workshop to be passionate about building their media careers around investigative journalism.

He said: “Build a vast network of sources that will always serve as your contacts. Again, it is imperative you protect your sources,” he said.

In his lecture titled, “Humanitarian Journalism: A Panacea for Conflict Prone Area,” Dr. Sule, a senior lecturer at the Bayero University Kano disclosed that amid several crises troubling Nigeria many local journalists pay less attention to practising humanitarian journalism, as a panacea to the nation's socio-economic woes.

According to him, Nigerian reporters and media practitioners will be exploring certain things that affect citizens and the larger society by engaging in humanitarian journalism.

He explained that humanitarian journalists are also ‘crisis reporters’.

“As humanitarian journalists, try to understand what can trigger crises. And then engage in reportage that can douse social tension or upheavals,” the lecturer, who also is the Chairman of the Board of IMPR, said.

A revered broadcaster and media mogul, Alhaji Ismail Sani, stressed the need for young reporters to upskill themselves in various aspects of broadcast journalism.

While speaking on Broadcast Journalism, Sani who is the Managing Director of both Wonderland TV and Platinum FM, promised to offer free training on camera handling techniques and other aspects of the electronic media to the participants.

Mr. Ajaefu, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Business International Digest, urged participants at the workshop to develop an interest in economic reporting which he said had a direct impact on the well-being of society. (PRNigeria)

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