Next Edition Centre, Policy Alert, NUJ Hold Workshop For A’Ibom Journalists 

The Next Edition Centre

for Investigative Journalism and Gender Advocacy (NECIJGA) in collaboration with Policy Alert and Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) holds Journalism Retool House in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The programme with the theme: Conflict Sensitivity Reportage and Constructive Engagement with State Actors; holds at the NUJ Press Center along Information Drive in Uyo, from Thursday – Friday, October 17 – 18, 2019.

The Retool House is designed to offer a practical everyday guide to journalists in the state with a view to guarantee conflict-sensitive reportage and a rancour-free engagement with state actors and the public

 This is predicated on the belief that meaningful development can only take place when there is peace and where the people understand and support the initiatives of the government and make positive contributions to policy framing and take ownership of projects in their domains.

 A total of 200 journalists, journalism teachers and experts within and outside the state are expected at the two-day training programme which will be chaired by the Editor-in-Chief, Next Edition Newspaper and Treasurer, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Victoria Ibanga.

Mr. Ibanga Isine, Managing Editor/Retool House Coordinator; Comrade Amos Etuk, Chairman, NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council and Mr. Tijah Bolton, Executive Director, Policy Alert in a statement said that “the Retool House will be declared open by the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Moses Ekpo.

 It will parade some of the best journalists and media practitioners in the country including Mr. Ray Ekpu, world-class editor and media icon, Dr. Rueben Abati, international TV anchor, renowned academic and former Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and Shola Ajay, multiple award-winning international broadcaster and showbiz mogul.

 Others are Mr. Sam Akpe, award-winning editor and media consultant and Ibanga Isine, Managing Editor, Next Edition Newspaper, Lagos and Coordinator of the Retool House.

 Speaking on the planned training, the Editor-in-Chief of the Next Edition Newspaper, Ms. Ibanga said the theme: Conflict Sensitivity Reportage and Constructive Engagement with State Actors was selected based on research that showed a yearning need for reportage that promotes peace, unity, good neighbourliness and accountability on the part of state actors and leaders.

 “We carefully selected our resource persons to address key topics that will ultimately teach our colleagues in Akwa Ibom on the best approach to frame and tell their stories,” she said.

 “The Retool House as the name implies, will offer very practical approaches to responsible journalism which is an emerging school of thought in the media industry.”

 The Next Edition Centre for Investigative Journalism and Gender Advocacy has been training journalists and media practitioners in Akwa Ibom State since 2017 and has attracted some of the best brains in the Nigerian media space to the state.