Newspaper publishers call for ‘co-regulation, not govt regulation’ of media industry

The Executive Council of Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has reaffirmed the association’s commitment to responsible journalism at all times.

It also resolved to unfold soon, a global ombudsman structure for the entire industry and modalities for it.

In a communiqué, which was issued after its last meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at the NPAN Secretariat in Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, and signed by its President, Kabiru A. Yusuf, the council said steps were being quickened “to empanel at the industry level, a workable, quick and responsive system to address public complaints and concerns on missteps by the media and its operatives.”

The well-attended meeting, among other matters, deliberated on the regulatory framework for media operatives within the respective member-organisations and the industry at large and gave a November 1, 2021 deadline for each member to empanel an internal ombudsman mechanism.

The council noted that the “internal ombudsman in discharging its responsibilities is expected to work with the following tools: the Nigeria Union of Journalists ((NUJ) Code of Ethics and the canons of journalism practice as encapsulated in FOBAC (Fairness, Objectivity, Balance, Accuracy and Completeness).”

The internal ombudsman, the communiqué said, is: “To ensure that the news organisation keeps to the canons of journalism practice and the code of ethics; mediate in conflicts stemming from internal or external pressures; keep news organisation honest and accountable to the public for news reported, and; ensure that the public’s right to know is protected.”