By Joe Akwarandu
Amnesty International has trained more than sixty journalists from South East Nigeria and Delta State in Enugu to promote ethical, rights centred and gender sensitive journalism. The two day workshop held in Enugu state, on 29 and 30 October, focused on improving reportage around human rights, media safety and ethical newsroom practice.
With concerns rising over human rights abuses in Nigeria, the training aimed to empower media professionals to tell stories with empathy, accuracy and accountability while giving voice to vulnerable groups. The programme brought together reporters, media advocates and experts to examine legal, ethical and safety challenges in modern journalism.
A representative of Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr Michael Christian, said the initiative was inspired by growing reports of rights violations and the need for journalists to reflect the human impact of injustice. He noted that many reports capture facts but miss the emotional and social cost to victims.
An Associate Professor of Law at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Professor Chijioke Agbo, delivered a session on press freedom and legal risks in journalism. He urged journalists to remain firm in truth telling while understanding legal in boundaries, stressing that the protection of media sources should be treated as a privilege that requires discretion. He encouraged continuous review of laws that affect press freedom and civic participation.
Another facilitator, Barrister Anne Agi from the University of Calabar, spoke on gender sensitive reporting. She emphasised respect for survivors, avoidance of sensationalism and protection of privacy, noting that reporting should uphold dignity and challenge stereotypes rather than reinforce harm. She encouraged journalists to amplify voices responsibly and ensure ethical headlines and storytelling.
Dr Kabiru Danladi discussed daily media ethics, highlighting the need to rebuild public trust through fairness, accuracy and fact checking. He warned against pressures linked to politics, economics, culture and the digital space, urging reporters to resist sensational narratives and prioritise accountability.
Media safety expert John Omilabu led a session on security for journalists covering sensitive issues. He outlined steps for physical and digital safety, including situational awareness, risk assessment and crisis planning, while reminding reporters to remain vigilant in conflict or hostile environments.
The training reflects growing concern about press freedom and rights protection in Nigeria. By equipping journalists with ethical and safety tools, Amnesty International aims to strengthen public interest reporting, amplify marginalised voices and support a responsible media sector capable of defending democratic values and human dignity.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council, Mr Churchill Oyowe, commended Amnesty International for the training and described it as timely given global and domestic challenges facing the press. He said the workshop renewed participants commitment to rights based reporting and professional excellence.
The programme climaxed with a collective pledge to strengthen democratic values, defend human dignity and promote accurate, ethical journalism that supports public trust.
