31st Twitter Chat with Abdulaziz Abdulaziz Associate Editor Special Projects Premium Times Newspaper on Assessing the Performance of Media in Informing the Public About Covid-19 Pandemic

In its latest Twitter Chat series, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) hosted Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, the Associate Editor of Special Projects, Premium Times. The conversation focused on “Accessing the Performance of Media in Informing the Public about Covid19 Pandemic”.

The Programme officer of CITAD, Ali Sabo welcomed the discussant to the newest edition of the Twitter chat series adding initiated by CITAD in an attempt to provide the society with necessary information and create awareness. He expressed that it’s a privilege to host the Premium Times Associate Editor on this platform. The discussion started unfolding with the statement from the discussant that discussing the role of media in fighting against #COVID19 is a salient one, looking at the centrality of the information architecture in the success or otherwise of a fight like this adding that the media’s role as a purveyor of information and an education tool is pivotal to development of any society. Beyond the rather archaic role of “inform, educate & entertain” the media today is a special purpose vehicle essential for catalyzing development.

Abdulaziz continued explaining that in this modern role of journalism, the media is beyond just a megaphone. It is a mirror and a sieve—a mirror that mirrors happenings, with a glimpse into their implications, and a sieve that separate the chaffs from the grains. The global media has played a front row role in the fight against #COVID19. This is broadly around awareness through timely & factual info, calming nerves and, most importantly, bursting falsehood. Nigerian media isn’t far away in this regard.

Moreover, the #COVID19 pandemic presented the media with a unique challenge, both internally (operations, finances, etc) and externally (how to report and what to report). This has affected the business of news production and dissemination.

Furthermore, under the circumstances, the Nigerian media, like their counterparts elsewhere, played momentous role in contributing to the fight against #COVID19. The media walked side-by-side with @NCDCgov and the healthworkers in battling the pandemic.

Responding to the question about misinformation, stigma and fake news being a problem in the fight against covid19 and How has the media perform to address these issues, the discussant express his thoughts to be the greatest tribute to the media in the #COVID19 fight is in the area of #factchecking and the fight against #fakenews. The media was upbeat in pointing out misinformation.

When asked whether he thinks the effort of Nigerian media have changed anything especially the perception of the general public about Covid19, Abdulaziz responded that It is not easy to answer this in “yes” or “no” term. It is one thing to have the right and adequate information and it is another to trust and believe such information. The Nigerian media has done a lot in making the right information available, adding that almost all Nigerian media organisations have devoted considerable space and time reporting #COVID19. There has also been appreciable level of data journalism inform of #factchecking & verification.

The discussant was also asked about his feelings about whether the media has covered the COVID-19 outbreak as it supposed to or whether there’s something else journalists could be doing in covering this event. He responded that what needs greater emphasis in this #COVID19 coverage is accountability journalism, especially on public finance and that there is need to look deep into expenditures around the #COVID19 response and ask vital questions.

At the end, Abdulaziz expressed his appreciation towards the centre for their efforts in driving conversation around #COVID19 awareness, and how to be accountable while battling the pandemic.

 

 

 

Engagements:

 

@ a_sabo12 Good afternoon all, Please welcome @Abdulfagge, Associate Editor, Special Projects @PremiumTimesng who is going to be discussing on Assessing the Performance of Media in Informing the Public about Covid19 Pandemic

 

 

@Abdulfagge Thanks to #CITADAgainstCovid19 for the conversation you are driving around #COVID19 awareness, and how to be accountable while battling the pandemic.

 

 

@Abdulfagge, on a scale of hundred, where can you place the Nigerian media in terms of providing the needed information about #COVID19 to the Nigerian public?

 

@ Abdulfagge Discussing the role of media in fighting against #COVID19 is a salient one, looking at the centrality of the information architecture in the success or otherwise of a fight like this.

 

@Abdulfagge The medias role as a purveyor of information and an education tool is pivotal to development of any society. Beyond the rather archaic role of inform, educate & entertain the media today is a special purpose vehicle essential for catalyzing development.

 

@Abdulfagge In this modern role of journalism, the media is beyond just a megaphone. It is a mirror and a sieve-a mirror that mirrors happenings, with a glimpse into their implications, and a sieve that separate the chaffs from the grains.

 

@Abdulfagge The global media has played a front row role in the fight against #COVID19. This is broadly around awareness through timely & factual info, calming nerves and, most importantly, bursting falsehood. Nigerian media isnt far away in this regard.

 

@Abdulfagge The #COVID19 pandemic presented the media with a unique challenge, both internally (operations, finances, etc) and externally (how to report and what to report). This has affected the business of news production and dissemination.

 

 

@Abdulfagge , on a scale of hundred, where can you place the Nigerian media in terms of providing the needed information about #COVID19 to the Nigerian public?

 

@Abdulfagge Under the circumstances, the Nigerian media, like their counterparts elsewhere, played momentous role in contributing to the fight against #COVID19. The media walked side- by-side with @NCDCgov and the health workers in battling the pandemic.

 

@MubarakEkute @Abdulfagge Misinformation, stigma and fake news has been a problem in the fight against covid19. How has been the performance of media in addressing these issues

 

@Abdulfagge I think the greatest tribute to the media in the #COVID19 fight is in the area of #factchecking and the fight against #fakenews . The media was upbeat in pointing out misinformation.

 

a_sabo12 Mr @Abdulfagge do you think the effort of Nigerian media have changed anything especially the perception of the general public about Covid19?

 

@Abdulfagge It is not easy to answer this in yes or noterm. It is one thing to have the right and adequate information and it is another to trust and believe such information. The Nigerian media has done a lot in making the right information available.

 

 

@Abdulfagge Almost all Nigerian media organizations have devoted considerable space and time reporting #COVID19. There has also been appreciable level of data journalism inform of #factchecking & verification.

 

@MubarakEkute @Abdulfagge How do you feel the media has covered the COVID-19 outbreak? What else could journalists be doing in covering this event?

 

@Abdulfagge What needs greater emphasis in this #COVID19 coverage is accountability journalism, especially on public finance. There is need to look deep into expenditures around the #COVID19 response and ask vital

 

 

@a_sabo12 It’s been a wonderful 1 hour engagement with @Abdulfagge , Associate Editor, Special Project @PremiumTimesng who discussed on Assessing the Role of Media in the Fighting against Covid19. Thank you so much for this wonderful engagement, sir & have a wonderful evening

 

@Abdulfagge Thanks a lot!