By The Evangelist | Crime Desk
Retired Justice of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Hon. Justice Ifiok Ukana, has urged journalists covering the courts to acquire specialised knowledge of judicial processes, legal terminology and court procedures to enable them report accurately and responsibly.
Justice Ukana made the call while delivering a paper titled “Writing Effective Court Reports and Navigating the Complexities of Contempt and Defamation” at a symposium on effective crime and court reporting in Akwa Ibom State.
Describing the judiciary as “a mystery” that requires specialised knowledge to cover, the retired judge said journalists still had considerable work to do in understanding judicial decision-making, legal terminology, judgments, rulings and the time limits governing injunctive reliefs.
According to him, without adequate knowledge of these areas, the media would be unable to effectively fulfil its constitutional responsibility of informing, educating and shaping public opinion.
Justice Ukana, however, clarified that the objective was not to turn journalists into lawyers but to equip them with the essential tools required for responsible court reporting.
He also explained that contempt of court should be understood as a mechanism for preserving the dignity and authority of the judiciary rather than being used to intimidate or silence the press.
“The court and the press must not be at loggerheads. We are partners in promoting and strengthening democracy,” he said.
Speaking on “Courtroom Etiquette, Judicial Communication, and Accurate Reporting,” the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Friday Itim, urged journalists to observe proper courtroom decorum while covering proceedings.
Itim specifically cautioned journalists against taking photographs or recording live videos in court without the permission of the presiding judge.
He also clarified some commonly misunderstood legal terms, explaining that a discharge does not necessarily amount to a final exoneration, as a defendant who is discharged may, under applicable circumstances, be rearrested and retried.
An acquittal, he explained, is a release on the merits at the conclusion of a trial.
Also speaking, the South-South Editor of Premium Times, Mr. Cletus Ukpong, stressed the need for journalists to strike a balance between the pressure to break news and the obligation to publish accurate and fair reports.
Presenting a paper titled “Balancing the Desire for Breaking News with Fair, Factual Reporting,” Ukpong said speed could provide journalists with a competitive advantage, but accuracy remained a fundamental professional obligation.
He urged journalists to distinguish between information that must be verified before publication and details that could legitimately be updated as investigations or court proceedings progressed.
He further called on the media to exercise particular care when reporting matters involving victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons, stressing the need to protect their dignity, safety and privacy.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, underscored the critical role of the media in the administration of justice and challenged journalists to continuously assess their competence in reporting sensitive crime and judicial matters.
Umanah urged practitioners to resist the temptation to sacrifice accuracy for speed, warning against reports capable of misleading the public, prejudicing proceedings or inflaming tensions.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, said the symposium was designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of crime and judicial reporting while contributing to effective justice delivery.
He expressed appreciation to the State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot, for facilitating the training and strengthening the relationship between the judiciary and the media.
John also commended the resource persons and participants for their punctuality, active engagement and commitment to improving professional standards in crime and court reporting.
The symposium provided journalists with practical guidance on legal reporting, courtroom conduct, contempt, defamation, accuracy, fairness and the protection of vulnerable persons, areas considered essential to credible and responsible journalism.
