The Nigeria Guild of Editors has emphasized its commitment to ensuring impartial coverage of the 2019 general elections especially in the face of a monetized electoral system.
The President of the Guild, Funke Egbemode, made this known while explaining the choice of the theme of the 2018 All Nigeria Editors’ Conference – Credible Election, Sustainable Democracy and the Nigerian Media.
She said the theme was informed by an urgent and compelling responsibility of the Guild to plot a roadmap to 2019 as a watchdog with a duty to provide impartial coverage.
Quoted in a statement by the chairman of the planning committee of the conference billed for Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, she said the media had a role in ensuring the sustenance of democracy.
Her words: “We believe that the media also has a role to play in ensuring sustainability of the country’s democracy in view of the key role it plays in information dissemination and moulding of public opinion.
“It is, therefore, imperative that the media is properly positioned not only to understand the issues involved in organising a credible election, but to advance a true democratic culture in the manner it reports issues of politics and governance.”
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The conference is scheduled to hold from Wednesday October 10 to Sunday, October 14.
The event will be attended by dignitaries from within and outside the country.
The host governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, will be at the event.
Former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission and senior member of Open Society for Justice Initiative, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, will deliver a keynote address.
Some of the organisations expected at the event are the Global Editors Network (GEN), West African Editors Forum (WAEF), the African Editors Forum (TAEF), the World Editors Forum (WEF) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).
