By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo.
Taraba state house of assembly speaker, Rt. Hon. John Kizito Bonzena has tasked journalists to embrace modern parliamentary reportage against all forms of fake news.
The speaker made the call in Jalingo when he declared open a two-day capacity building workshop on modern parliamentary reporting for journalists covering proceedings of the house of assembly in the state.
Rt. Hon. Bonzena represented at the event by deputy majority leader, Hon. Mark Dio noted that the initiative to organize the workshop at this point in time cannot be over emphasized considering the increasing wave of fake news, misinformation and inaccurate reportage of events by the ever proliferating, social and other conventional media platforms.
He said, the legislature, like other branches of government, has its own peculiarities, protocols, traditions, conventions and customs that should and must be understood by members of the press, particularly those reporting events, issues and activities of the legislature.
He added that the choice of the theme of the workshop “enhancing effective parliamentary reporting for accountability and good governance”, was particularly overwhelmed and believe that at the end of the program the fourth real of the estate will add value to the much desired accountability and good governance in the state and nation in line with global best practices.
In her remarks at the event, the clerk of the house, Mrs. Salmuna Sani observed that the two-day capacity workshop put together by Taraba assembly in conjunction with SHA-ED Global Concept will expose participants to new techniques.
She stated that apart from sharpening and equipping the media with requisite skills, it further maintained that it will broaden horizons on innovative approaches of handling assignments.
Madam Clerk noted “I want to believe that the organizers of this workshop are fully aware of the crucial role journalists play in information dissemination. That is why the theme of this workshop has been carefully crafted with interesting topics slated to be delivered by very competent resource persons of repute”, she stated.
While she appreciated the state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas for approving the all-important capacity workshop equally commended the speaker, John Bonzena for putting the program together to ensure journalists covering parliamentary proceedings are not left out in the global arena.
She however appealed to participants to give attention to all topics in order to enhance their knowledge on parliamentary reportage.
Meanwhile, the keynote address was presented by Vice Chancellor Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Prof. Umar A. Pate.
Other distinguished facilitators who presented various papers at events which centered on modern parliamentary reporting includes former commissioner of information and strategy, Barr. Danjuma Adamu, chief of Staff, government house administration, Jalingo, Dr. Jeji Williams Mni, special adviser (political) Rt. Hon. Josiah Sabo Kente and immediate past clerk of Taraba House of Assembly, chief Mella Orngu.
