On Wednesday, 30 October 2024, at the Centenary Hall, Ibeto Hotels, Apo, Abuja, by 10am, the 2024 Civic Space Guard Conference of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), free press, civic space and the future of investigative journalism. Speakers – Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Police; Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative; Hauwa Shaffi Nuhu, Managing Editor, HumAngle and Chido Onumah, Coordinator, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy. Others are Monsur Hussain, Head of Innovation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development; and Nkem Agunwa Programme Manager, Africa, WITNESS, will explore how investigative journalism can thrive in an AI-driven age, address the pressing need to safeguard press freedom, uphold democratic values, and ensure the ethical use of information while holding power to account.
The event which will also feature the launch of WSCIJ’s 2023 media monitoring report, a sequel to the 2022 edition – Hushed voices and the media’s defence of the civic space will be moderated by Kimberly Nwachukwu, Broadcast Journalist, Nigeria Info 95.1, Abuja and Nten Ekpang, Editor, Trust TV. It will feature two panel sessions. The first session, “AI for the future of investigative journalism: Tools, challenges, and opportunities,” will highlight the importance of safeguarding civic space while examining how the interplay between these elements shapes public accountability, informs citizens, and influences democratic processes. The second, “Protecting civic space: The intersection of free press, investigative journalism, technology, and democracy,” will focus on how new technologies are reshaping investigative journalism by improving fact-checking, data gathering, and analysis while addressing challenges related to ethical use, accuracy, press freedom, and the broader impact on journalistic integrity and civic engagement.
This initiative, part of the ‘Leveraging the power of the media to fortify the civic space and tackle malinformation’ programme, implemented by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is supported by the Netherlands Embassy. It highlights the media’s critical role in safeguarding democratic freedoms. The programme reinforces the media’s vital function as an independent guardian of civic space through public dialogues, media monitoring, and recognition of journalists who bravely expose impunity and defend fundamental human rights.
This conference is open to investigative journalists, media executives, news managers, human rights activists, legal professionals, tech innovators, security personnel, civil society groups, and government representatives.
Signed
Motunrayo Alaka
Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ
