The Nigerian media industry on Tuesday said it adopted the new co-regulation and code of ethics which would help in addressing ethical and professional concerns in the sector.

The decision was reached at the end of a roundtable organised by the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria in conjunction with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers on November 14.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said member of the Nigeria Press Organisation would work together to make the co-regulation system effective, particularly through the establishment of the ombudsman at local and central levels.

“That sanctions for the violation of ethical codes and professional standards shall be determined by the Ombudsman, guided by the regulation.

“That media professional bodies and associations shall partner media organisations to give wide publicity to the decisions of the Ombudsman,” the communiqué said.

On the revised Code of Ethics of Journalists in Nigeria, the communiqué noted that a bill of rights would be incorporated into the revised code to address concerns over some industry practices that undermined the welfare and safety of journalists.

Speaking at the event, the Editor-in-Chief/Senior Vice Chairman of Leadership Group Limited, Mr Azu Ishiekwene, based his presentation on the report of the committee of the NPO.

The committee was mandated to develop a framework for a generally acceptable, workable, and trusted self-regulatory platform for the industry, both at the local and central levels.

The second presentation was on a guide through the Revised Code of Ethics for Nigerian journalists, done by the Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications/founder of the Diamond Awards For Media Excellence Trust Fund, Mr Lanre Idowu.