MRA Trains Journalists On FOI Act, Pledge Support For Users

Media Rights Agenda is bolstering journalists’ capacity to utilize the Freedom of Information Act, aiming to enhance transparency and hold public institutions accountable. This initiative addresses the suboptimal use of FOI legislation despite its potential to reveal institutional conduct, ensuring that regulatory bodies and agencies are properly scrutinized. By empowering reporters with the technical skills to request information, the organization seeks to transform how public accountability is enforced through rigorous investigative practices. The article highlights critical safety concerns, as journalists face harassment and threats from powerful figures displeased with exposés of wrongdoing. Participants urgently called for amendments to the cybercrimes act to prevent the weaponization of laws against media practitioners. There is a strong demand for comprehensive safety training and government intervention to protect reporters and their families, ensuring that those who intimidate or attack journalists are prosecuted. This underscores the urgent need for legal and structural reforms to secure press freedom. Relevance to open data lies in the fundamental link between legislative access and information transparency. The FOI act serves as the legal mechanism for extracting non-public data from government entities, making its effective use essential for open data advocacy. Without robust legal frameworks and journalist training to leverage these provisions, the flow of critical public data remains obstructed, hindering meaningful oversight and democratic engagement.

Source: leadership.ng
Published on 2023-11-27

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