US Envoy Says Free Press Promotes Healthy Democracy 

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Jeffrey Hawkins, United States Consul General has emphasized the relevance of free and independent press to healthy democracy in Nigeria.
“We all know that a free press is essential to a healthy democracy.  Not only during elections but every day, every week, every month, and every year the news media must remain focused and engaged.”
This he said in a program held to mark the World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday May 5, at the Multi-purpose room, U.S Consulate General, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event was tagged, Assessing the Role of the Media during the 2015 Elections. 
Hawkins who commended the news media for playing a constructive role in ensuring successful and largely peaceful 2015 elections, said, “The news media, like their peers in other parts of the world, shoulder a heavy responsibility to inform and educate the electorate in some cases placing themselves in harm’s way.”
He noted that not only during elections but every day, every week, every month, and every year the news media must remain focused and engaged.  
According to him, “By providing to the Nigerian electorate timely, factual, analytical, and objective information to help them understand the issues and where the candidates stand, the news media lived-up to a universal professional standard and contributed immensely to a healthy and functioning democracy in Nigeria.  
“The news media can be a powerful force for change.  It can effectively fulfill the roles of watchdog, gatekeeper and agenda-setter.  It can improve governance by raising citizen awareness of social issues, enabling citizens to hold their governments to account, curbing corruption, and creating a civic forum for debate. 
“To support the news media to play its central role in enhancing democracy, the U.S. Government supports capacity building and defends the freedom of the press all over the world.”  
The event, which was anchored by Dehab Ghebread, the public affairs officer, had series of lectures. Some of the lectures presented are: Hate Speech, Journalism Ethics, Gender Equality and role of media regulatory agencies in 2015 election coverage, presented by Abigail Ogwezzy-Idisika, HOD, Mass Communication UNILAG; Influence of Media owners on fair and balanced reporting and commentaries in 2015 election coverage, presented by Femi Adesina, President of Nigerian Guild of Editors; and Appraising adherence to factual, balanced and fair reporting and commentaries in 2015 election coverage, presented by Emovwo Biakolo, founding Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.
Other speakers at the event include, Chamberlain Usoh, a producer at Lagos-based Channels Television and Emmanuel Ogala, Head, Digital strategy, Premium Times.