The Amplify In-Depth Media Conference of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has kicked off at the Abuja Continental Hotel with several conversations, including a debate on media regulation.

The two-day event, which is to feature about 40 speakers, including media experts from universities, began on Friday with opening remarks from the organisers and a keynote address by Dapo Olorunyomi, the publisher of Premium Times and founder of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

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Notable among the opening panel sessions was “Media Regulation and Independence: Where is the Balance?”, which was moderated by Sharon Ijasan, a TVC News correspondent.

While maintaining that “the media cannot run away from being accountable to society”, Lanre Arogundade, a panelist and executive director, the International Press Centre (IPC), said media regulation should not strangulate the press, and that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), for instance, should put the strengths of media houses into consideration when giving sanctions.

Dili Ezughah, Executive Sectretary/CEO, Nigerian Press Council, said regulation helps improve media operations in Nigeria. “We’re talking about safety, standards and compliance,” he said.

Panelists faulted the leadership arrangement of the NBC, which allows it to take orders directly from the Minister of Information. According to them, bodies regulating journalism should be subject to the National Assembly, and appointments into their boards should not be an exclusive right of the presidency.

Responding to Ijasan’s question on the plan to regulate digital media which seems to be taking over the space, Franca Aiyetan, director, Broadcast Monitoring, NBC, said there were considerations to introduce an all-inclusive digital code in the country. She cited instances where social media platforms took days to take down offensive posts reported by the NBC.

“Big tech should not be the ones deciding what is offensive to the people,” she said. “Media regulation is not a clampdown.”

Emphasising the importance of discretion in journalism, Aiyetan said, “If you’re the watchdog of society, you should also be concerned about the effect of your stories.”

Arogundade, however,  insisted that Nigerian regulatory bodies wield excessive powers which allow them to be the accuser, prosecutor and judge at the same time. He said a media house accused of wrongdoing should be allowed to defend itself in front of the regulator’s board.