Oluwafunke Lasisi
The International Press Centre (IPC) has launched a short video of IPC Community Journalism initiative on twitter and other social media to showcase their activities on how communities can fight for their rights to acquire the necessary development from the government.
The reason for the launching is to engage media houses in community reporting and give room to both the journalists and communities’ members to monitor what the governments are doing about development meant to be given in each and every community area.
The communities include some local areas in Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Amuwo-Odofin, Shomolu among others mentioned in the video.
At the programme, the Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said another reason for the launching was to engage media houses on community reporting at an appropriate time, not only writing about political issues but also putting the grassroots into consideration and letting the inhabitants feel important as part of the society.
He lamented that many media houses are not doing proper reporting and investigating on community issues, adding that all they do is political issues, whether during campaign, election period or not.
He stressed that communities most especially the rural areas do not have the privilege and access to development such as good roads, health centre, schools, potable water among others, which bring in the media houses to come to their aid and let them know they can request for the necessary needs in their areas to make a passable living for young and old.
UKaid, ActionAid and World Association Christian Communication are in support of the initiative activities to build good communities around the state of Lagos.
