SERAP Trains Journalists on FOI Act, Media and Legal Rights to Strengthen Investigative Reporting By Raymond Enoch
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has intensified efforts to strengthen investigative journalism and media freedom by training journalists on the legal framework governing press freedom, access to information, digital rights, and protection against legal intimidation by repressive state institutions.
The capacity-enhancement workshop, which brought together journalists, media practitioners and civil society actors, focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, media ethics, defamation laws, digital security, and strategies for responding to legal threats arising from investigative reporting.
Participants were taken through the effective use of the FOI Act as a powerful investigative tool to obtain public records, promote government transparency, and hold public institutions accountable.
Facilitators one after the other stressed that journalists must understand their legal rights and responsibilities to confidently carry out public interest reporting while remaining within the boundaries of professional ethics and the law.
The training also addressed the increasing use of lawsuits and other forms of intimidation aimed at discouraging investigative journalism, with experts encouraging media professionals to document violations, seek legal protection where necessary, and collaborate with media support organisations in defending press freedom.
Discussions further highlighted the growing challenges confronting journalists, including restrictions on civic space, online harassment, censorship, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on freedom of expression, warning that these developments threaten democratic accountability if left unchecked.
SERAP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting journalists through legal education, strategic advocacy, and the promotion of transparency and accountability in governance. The organisation noted that empowering journalists with knowledge of media law and the FOI Act is essential to strengthening investigative reporting and protecting democracy.
Participants who spoke to Paradigm News described the workshop as timely and impactful, noting that a sound understanding of media law, legal rights, and access to public information would enhance professionalism, improve investigative reporting, and enable journalists to better serve the public interest.
