Journalists and information managers have been urged to move beyond traditional reporting methods in order to advance sustainable agriculture.
The call was made Thursday at the Media Training for Sustainable Agriculture (MT4SA) organised by Futux, a leading agricultural extension company, in Lagos.
Speaking at the session, Senior Associate Consultant at Futux, Oyewole Okewole, highlighted the environmental, food security and economic benefits of sustainable agriculture. He said the media had a vital role in supporting the sector by telling farmers’ stories, providing timely updates, and helping to ensure fair market access for produce.
In his presentation, Acting General Manager of Adamimogo 93.1FM, Sam Olugbeminiyi, outlined five key principles for reporting on sustainable agriculture: consistency, clarity, contextual relevance, solutions-oriented coverage and inclusivity.
He stressed the need for journalists to use multimedia tools such as videos, podcasts, graphics and social media to better reach audiences, given short attention spans and limited reading culture. He also urged reporters to balance coverage by probing for solutions and using their work to spotlight stakeholder perspectives, policy shifts and emerging proposals.
Participants commended Futux for the training, describing it as an eye-opener and pledging to put the knowledge gained into practice in their respective organisations.
