Media Challenges In Coverage Of House Of Assembly Highlighted

                         

odogwuemekaodogwu.com informs that a workshop on Legislative reportage coverage and training has advocated financial autonomy for State Houses of Assembly in the country, to enable them carry out their Law-making functions, without fear of favour.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the workshop organized by the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) in Enugu, Enugu State, the participants listed inadequate access to information, the uncooperative attitude of law makers and lack of logistic for effective media coverage as some of the challenges facing media representatives covering the State Houses of Assembly.

The participants also observed that shortage of skilled manpower, lack of awareness of lawmakers on legislative function, as well as non availability of a fully equipped Press Center have remained the bane of reporting in the State Houses of Assembly and called on Anambra and Enugu State Houses of Assembly to remedy the situation.

They advocated the participation of assembly correspondents in public hearings, town hall meetings and oversight functions, as well as effective liaison of reporters with constituents in order to publicize the activities of members of the legislature.

The participants also recommended regular press briefing by the House Committee Chairman on Information once a month to keep reporters abreast of the activities of the Legislature, periodically.

They also called for periodic training of journalists covering the legislature to enable hem perform their duties effectively.

Participants were drawn from public and private print and electronic media covering both the Anambra and Enugu State Houses of Assembly.