TECH DIGEST – As we join the Globe in marking the World Press Freedom Day again, the recurring contestation have been and still is, if the Nigerian Press is absolutely truly free in line with universally acceptable standards or yardstick.

While we might have recorded some successes from our journey in the military era down to the current dispensation, recent happenings with media colleagues across the country have proven that we still have a long way to go.

It is not in dispute that a handful of media professionals suffer attacks, including harassment and intimidation, arrests, detention, assaults, threats, denial of access and seizure of equipment mostly from politicians and security operatives thereby disrupting them from fulfilling their roles of watchdogs, gatekeepers and agenda-setters for National growth and development.

In speaking the minds of our colleagues, we wish to reiterate that Press Freedom is very essential to our endeavor, it is our enabling environment, it is our fertile ground to thrive, it is the very fundamental core that serves as a pillar for us to deliver on our mandate as 4th estate of the realm while dispensing our duties through the might of our pen and the strengths in our voices and we demand it!

We use this day to renew our call that authorities should not only work hard in allowing the press to thrive freely under the tenets that drives them ethically, but to ensure and guarantee thier safety at all times.

On our part, we use this day to recommit ourselves to the duty that cherish with pride.

To all my Press Colleagues out there, I greet you on this great day. May the pen continue to weild greater might against the sword.

Mohammad Dahiru Lawal
Media Strategist, Development Journalist, Reporting Fellow, Convener Arewa Agenda for Sustainable Development, Coordinator Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting and National Secretary Nigerian Journalists for Climate Action Network (NIJOCAN).

03/05/2021

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TECH DIGEST – Unlike political or economic change, technological change created both risks and opportunities for journalists. Developments in Open Source technologies and artificial intelligence inevitably promoted media rights.

Digital Security Tools helps journalists in encryption to secure journalists and their digital environment from cyber-attacks and online harassments. Numerous times investigative journalists are subjected to violations of their rights to expression, privacy, dignity, and safety online. Encryption, anonymity, and digital security tools have proved to be effective in promoting media rights.

Globally, journalists have utilized Social Media platforms to create and support media right related activism for Freedom of the press thereby forcing dictatorial regimes to tread cautiously in gagging of the press unlike before. ‘hashtag movements’ lead to policy change and generated awareness which is a major step in the right direction.

Open Source Intelligence Tools allows journalists to use collective Intelligence from organic social media posts to detect journalists in danger for an immediate emergency response to save the life of journalists thus promoting media rights.

Digital Skills for the Future of Journalism

The dramatic shift in media consumption in the last decade has towards digital and social platforms. In order to keep up with this speedy pace, Journalists must broaden their skill-set to meet the growing demands for online storytelling and content generation for Social Media.

A professional digital journalist should have the following skills set:

Online Privacy & Security Applications

Digital News Production

Digital Tools to Verify Information

Posting Stories on Social Media

Digital Audience Engagement

Production & Distribution

Reporting & Editing

Digital Photography

Mobile and Backpack Reporting

Data & Investigative Journalism

Acquiring these skills will enhance Digital journalists work daily, in addition to learning how to handle them, they need to be aware of any new tools that emerge. They are in constant evolution!

Ali Isa Musa is a Non-Resident Fellow Nigerian Global Affairs Council Lagos.

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