By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Association of Digital Media Core Advocates (ADMCA), a foremost media right and advocacy campaigner, Wednesday, trained media practitioners in Anambra State on cyber aggression, cyber stalking, cyber bullying and safe use of social media.
The trainees, it was learnt, included the journalists from different media platforms and some powerful citizen journalists referred to as media influencers.
Speaking at the event climaxed by unveiling of an online based newspaper, hardcore news, the convener and National President, ADMCA, Dr Chuma Harris-Odili, explained that the programme was necessary to address some challenges facing the media on the cyber space and proffer solutions towards overcoming them.
Odili, who sought for expunging of criminal defamation from the penal code, because according to him, the rich and the powerful class were using it to silence opposing views, however, urged the media to seek knowledge of relevant media laws for better practice.
"Nigeria, like a few other countries, has enacted laws Amies at sanitising the system. While some aspects of these enactment are quite necessary, we at the ADMCA think that some of them, especially the one bordering on criminal defamation needs to be expunged from our penal code, especially as it is currently being exploited by the rich and powerful class to silence opposing views in the society, in active connivance with the law enforcement agents.
"So many examples abound, where social media posts, blog articles and podcasts have landed the disseminators in trouble. As unhealthy as this may, ADMCA will always urge balance when digital media practitioners' want to share whatever story they have online. As digital media practitioners' chase the lines, shares and view, they must bear in mind that Nigeria has a Cyber Crime Act 2015 which prohibits cyber-bullying, cyber stalking and cyber squatting," he added.
Also speaking, the National Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), South East Zone C, Sir Emmanuel Ifesinachi, frowned at indiscriminate arrest, intimidation and molestation of media practitioners in the country often carried out by the rich, politicians and law enforcement agents.
Ifesinachi argued that the journalists should be seen and treated as partners in progress as they perform their roles as societal watchdogs while holding the government accountable.
He, therefore, urged the government and the governed to stop using force on them but rather explore legal means of resolving whatever differences they had with the media at all times as it would be beneficial to society.
On his part, the keynote speaker at the occasion, Dr Chukwuma Onunkwo, urged the media practitioners' to be weary of information they disseminate on the Internet, because according to him, Internet never forget and publishing false and untrue reports could result into emotional and mental pains or even deaths.
In their separate contributions, notable media practitioners including Mrs Ify Unachukwu, Titus Eleweke, Okey Maduforo, Emma Elekwa, Okechukwu Onuegbu and Obiọma Obidiegwu tasked the media on trainings and retraining of their staff, while advocating for solidarity supports and collaborations among members to overcome challenges.