The Media has been challenged to adopt peace building and fostering unity within the polity as its own social responsibility as a way of managing ethno-religious conflicts.

This was the consensus among stakeholders at a One-Day Workshop on Ethno-Religious Conflict and Peace Journalism in Volatile Societies: The Role of the Media in Rivers State, Nigeria organized by the Center for the Study of African Culture and Communication (CESACC) of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in collaboration with the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP).

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim commended the organizers of the workshop for creating an avenue for discourse on issues around ethno-religious conflicts in the country, praying them to sustain the initiative.

Represented by the Director of Publications in his ministry, Valentine Ugboma, the Information and Communications Commissioner expressed the hope that programmes of this nature it will go a long way to foster unity among the citizens.

He noted that the State Government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike was working hard to ensure unity and harmony thrives across communities and ethnic groupings in the State, urging journalists to shun sensationalism and practice as professionals with proper news follow-up devoid of personal opinion.

Delivering his Keynote Address at the event, the Guest Speaker, Boye Salau gave an overview of ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria and Rivers State, in particular, emphasising the need to examine the presentation and representation of reality by the Media given its role as a veritable arbiter in the process of knowledge formation on issues and events.

Salau, who is also the Business Editor, Tide Newspaper, Port Harcourt, further stressed that the role of the Media in ethno-religious conflicts cannot be overemphasized, pointing out that “journalists should cover the real cause of conflicts and goals of the participants in such conflicts”.

“It is incumbent on journalists to place social responsibility above every other consideration. Accuracy, truth, objectivity, and peace-oriented Journalism should be an integral part of any good report of ethno-religious conflict”.

He noted that Journalists do not have the power to stop conflict but have the social responsibility to control it with accurate and objective reportage.

Speaking, Chairman of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Stanley Job pointed out the need for journalists to embrace training and retraining as it is the watchword of the union.

He called on journalists and media houses to cease from promoting activities of conflict groups but rather downplay such, urging journalists to strive to identify with the union and become members.

In attendance at the workshop, which held at the Bishop Camillus Etokudoh Hall, Holy Rosary Chaplaincy, under the chairmanship of the Convener and Senior Lecturer at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Rev. Fr. Gerald Musa, were the Acting Rector, CIWA, Rivers State, Prof. Jude Asanbe; and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, CIWA, Rivers State, Prof. Joseph Faniran.

Others were the Head of Department of Pastoral and Communication Studies, CIWA, Rivers State, Dr. Kenneth Egere; Deputy National President of Catholic Association of Media Practitioners of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Clarice Azuatalam, amongst several media practitioners and other professionals from diverse fields .