A Commitment to Accuracy: A Follow-up on Our NABAMS Election Coverage
To our readers and the campus community,
NEB acknowledges the significant feedback and concerns regarding our recent report on the NABAMS election. We take this engagement seriously, and in the spirit of journalistic accountability, we are providing this follow-up to clarify our reporting process and address the criticisms raised.
Our Reporting Process
Our initial report was based on a signed, official announcement from the ISEC Chairman, Ocheme Augustine Onuh, and subsequent interviews with him and the Faculty Senate President.
The core of our report included the following direct statements:
· ISEC Chairman, Ocheme Augustine Onuh: Confirmed the election process was "free and fair from the onset," but acknowledged it was disrupted "when some individuals whose results were not in their favor disrupted the process."
· Faculty Senate President, Comrade Kosemani Jubril Abiodun: Described the election as "smooth and peaceful," noting he left after voting and was thankful no one was harmed.
Following publication, we became aware of substantial counter-narratives from the student body. Comment sections and direct feedback highlighted claims that the election was not free and fair and included allegations of voter intimidation. Our journalist, who was initially denied access to the event for not presenting a Press ID, was unable to witness these events firsthand.
Where Our Reporting Fell Short
While we reported the statements of officials accurately, we failed to provide a complete picture. A crucial element—the significant disruption to the electoral process—was mentioned by the ISEC Chairman but not sufficiently investigated or balanced with on-the-ground accounts from other students and candidates. Relying solely on official sources after the fact, without pursuing the perspectives of those involved in the disruption, resulted in a report that lacked critical context and balance.
We recognize that responsible journalism requires diligence in seeking out all sides of a story, especially on matters as important as student elections. We did not meet that standard in this instance.
Our Commitment to You
NEB is an independent media platform dedicated to factual and balanced reporting. Our affiliation with the Department of Mass Communication underscores our commitment to professional journalistic standards, not political agendas. The label of a "political blog" is one we reject, and we are committed to proving otherwise through the integrity of our work.
We are taking this as a learning opportunity to strengthen our editorial process. Going forward, we will:
· Redouble our efforts to seek multiple perspectives, especially when covering contested events.
· Ensure that significant claims of disruption or misconduct are thoroughly investigated and given appropriate weight in our reporting.
We thank our audience for holding us accountable. Your feedback is essential to our growth and our shared goal of a well-informed campus community. We encourage you to continue this dialogue with us as we work to improve.
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