Why Crime Reporting is Important in Nigeria – Prof. Pate
By Rabiu Musa
HOTPEN – A Professor of Media and Society, Prof. Umar Pate has thrown his weight behind crime reporting in the country as a major factor that will assist in curbing the current armed conflict and other insecurity issues bedeviling the Nigerian state.
Prof. Umar Pate, a Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere Gombe State, made this known while presenting a paper titled; ‘Media and Crime Reporting in Nigeria’ at a two-day sensitization program with the theme “Media and Crime Reporting in Northern Nigeria” organized for Female Journalists in Dutse, Jigawa State.
The Media Expert noted that in today’s Nigeria, nearly every region, state, and community has one form of crime challenge or the other that required media attention.
He opined that the media is structured to gather, process, and disseminate public information in the society including that of the crime, adding that the crime reportage should be one of the significant areas of interest to the media.
He explained that Crime reporting includes techniques used by Journalists and Media Organizations to identify, cover, process, and disseminate information that focuses on committing of crimes, Victims of Crimes, Punishment, Justice Systems, and Security Operations. He added that “It also includes news reported in the media that are related to Terrorism, Kidnapping, Gender-Based Violence, Insurgency, Corruption, Fraud, and a host of others”.
The Media guru stated that even though crime news can make some people anxious, fearful, and apprehensive, however, it must be covered and reported particularly the punishment to serve as deterrence to others. He said crime reports will show how the laws of the land are broken by certain people and also show the power and strength of the country in dealing with criminals and show how victims are protected and exposed the criminal element and their negative behaviors.