By Nkechinyere Ewa
Amnesty International Nigeria has trained journalists from the South-East and Delta States on Human Rights-Centered Journalism, equipping them with knowledge and tools to promote justice, accountability, and dignity through ethical reporting.
The two-day residential training, themed “Strengthening Human Rights Reporting in the South-East,” is part of Amnesty International’s nationwide initiative to empower media practitioners to advance human rights through responsible storytelling.
Speaking at the event, Michael Christian, Media and Communications Officer of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the program was conceived to help journalists tell stories through a human rights lens and protect the dignity of victims in their reportage.
“Many times, news reports expose victims while shielding perpetrators. You’ll see a headline naming a 14-year-old victim, while the abuser is simply described as ‘a man’. Our goal is to reverse that culture—protect victims, name and shame perpetrators,” Christian explained.
He said the training is anchored on five key pillars: safety and security, gender sensitivity, press freedom, theory and ethics, and legal protection.
Christian noted that Amnesty is building a national database of journalists trained under the project to foster collaboration and sustained engagement across regions. “We’ve been to the South-West, North-Central, South-South, and now the South-East. We want to build a network of journalists who will continue to promote human rights and stand for truth,” he added.
Addressing issues of “brown envelope” journalism, Christian decried the poor welfare of media practitioners and called for stronger labor protection laws.
“Many journalists are hired without salary, only given ID cards. Nigeria needs laws compelling media employers to pay staff regularly to reduce unethical practices,” he said.
In her presentation, Dr. Anne Agi, a law lecturer at the University of Calabar, urged journalists to embrace truth and fairness despite intimidation, describing integrity as the highest standard of the profession.
“Your job is to tell the truth as it is. If you are not ready to pay the price for truth, step aside. Ethics demand that you remain fair, objective, and fearless,” she told participants.
Dr. Agi encouraged journalists, especially women, to leverage visibility and digital tools for their safety, citing the example of a detained female journalist whose release was secured through public pressure on social media.
“Visibility saves lives. Build strong networks, document everything, and invest in protective devices like recording pens or glasses. When threatened, your evidence and community can protect you,” she advised.
She also called on Amnesty International to enhance women journalists’ safety by establishing emergency contact systems and deepening engagement with security agencies.
The Human Rights-Centered Journalism program has reached hundreds of journalists across Nigeria and aims to cultivate a generation of media professionals who use their platforms to uphold justice, equality, and human dignity.
“The media have the power to set the societal agenda and hold the powerful accountable,” Amnesty International stated, reaffirming its commitment to supporting ethical journalism as a tool for national transformation.
Other resources persons including prof Chijioke Ago, John Omilabu, Haj Zainab Okino, Kabiru Danladi took the journalists on press freedom and the law: Navigating legal risks in journalism”, journalism theory and practice:A human rights perspective, and applying media ethics in daily practice: from code to conduct.