The Taraba State House of Assembly has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop for media practitioners covering legislative proceedings, aimed at enhancing their skills in modern parliamentary reporting.
The training, held at the Assembly Complex in Jalingo over the weekend, as observed by Daily Post, brought together media professionals from various outlets across the state.
Participants were equipped with modern techniques for covering legislative activities more effectively and were taken through key topics such as digitalization, communication in legislative processes, parliamentary procedures and terminologies, ethical considerations, investigative reporting, and the use of technology in parliamentary coverage.
In his keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Keshere, Professor Unaru Pate, emphasized the impact of digitalization and communication technologies on political communication and the legislative process.
He warned against the dangers of fake news, noting that misinformation could lead to suspicion, violence, and ethno-religious tensions.
Pate also called on authorities to invest in legislative communication infrastructure to foster transparency and public trust.
Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Dr. Josiah Sabo Kente, a former Speaker of the House, highlighted the need for journalists to understand legislative procedures and terminologies to provide more insightful and comprehensive reports.
He also stressed the importance of fact-checking and avoiding misinformation in parliamentary reporting.
Other resource persons, including Barrister Danjuma Adamu, Jeji Williams, and a former Clerk of the House, urged journalists to always verify facts with legislative authorities before publishing their reports.
Participants expressed appreciation for the initiative, stating that the training would enhance their ability to provide accurate and detailed coverage of legislative proceedings.
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Effective Parliamentary Reporting for Accountability and Good Governance,” our reporter gathered, is part of the Assembly’s broader efforts to promote transparency and strengthen the relationship between the legislature and the media
