2027: Avoid Sensationalism, Hate Speech, Verify Before Publishing – Nigerian Press Council Advises S’East Journalists
By Elochukwu Benjamin | IchieTimes
The Nigerian Press Council, NPC, has trained journalists in the South-East on identifying and preventing hate speech and inflammatory language in political reporting, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The three-day workshop, with the theme, “Capacity Building for Journalists in the South-East on Understanding and Identifying Hate Speech and Inflammatory Language in Political Discourse,” was organised in Awka, Anambra State, in partnership with Rounties Consults Nigeria Limited, and focused on promoting ethical, balanced and fact-based journalism.
Organisers say the media as the watch-dog of the society, need to be at its professional best, so as to be able to engage in the kind of reportage that will promote peace before, during and after the 2027 General Elections.
Speaking at the programme, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, cautioned journalists against sensationalism and the publication of unverified claims, stressing that the choice of words in news reports could inflame tensions.
Dr Mefor cited a false report alleging that the Ekwulobia flyover had failed an integrity test and would be demolished, insisting that claims concerning infrastructure require scientific evidence.
He also warned that fabricating stories and presenting them as facts could attract legal consequences under the Cybercrime Act.
The Executive Secretary of the NPC, Dili Ezugha, represented by Mrs Chinyere Facah, said political debate was essential to democracy but cautioned that hate speech and provocative language could deepen divisions and threaten national cohesion.
He described the theme as timely, noting that journalists must be able to differentiate between legitimate criticism and hate-driven narratives, and must avoid sensational headlines and unverified claims that amplify dangerous content.
“The NPC remains committed to its mandate to promote ethical standards through continuous engagement and training,” he said.
Participants were introduced to a five-step newsroom model for managing hate speech, which includes pausing to verify information, avoiding the amplification of hateful messages, providing context, deploying fact-checks and upholding professional ethics.
Other sessions examined conflict-sensitive reporting, election disinformation, deepfakes and manipulated electoral materials, with journalists trained in verification tools such as Google Reverse Image Search and InVID.
The workshop ended with a call on media organisations to establish fact-checking desks and collaborate with independent verification groups to curb misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
