SFCG TRAINS ADAMAWA JOURNALISTS ON CONFLICT-SENSITIVITY REPORTING
By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola
Search For Common Ground, a non-governmental organisation, has trained 30 journalists and social media influencers in Adamawa state on conflict sensitivity reporting.
The three days workshop with the theme “Do No Harm conflict sensitivity reporting” took place in Yola the Adamawa State Capital.
Speaking at the training, Head of Program Implementation,
Mr. Goodwin Okoko noted that the objective of the training was to equip journalists and social media influencers with the skills and technicality to draft impactful stories in conflict zones that convey truth without doing any harm.
Okoko further detailed that journalists reporting in conflict areas should employ the “do no harm” principle to ensure that they do not take sides while providing information to the public.
Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the Adamawa State Governor, Dr. John Ngamsa commended Search for Common Ground for the initiative to train journalists in the state on conflict sensitivity reporting.
According to him, journalists serve as instruments of peace, considering the vital roles they play in peace building during conflict.
He further explained that many crises are escalated when media practitioners take sides either on religious or ethnic grounds.
Also speaking, Search for Common Groun
d, media coordinator, Victor Baba Okpanachi, also called on media practitioner to imbibe mitigation strategies while covering conflict zone.
He said journalists should conduct conflict sensitive assessments to identify potential risks as they tell their stories.
He further noted that journalists can make or mar a community with their reportage hence, being sensitivity is essential for effective and ethical humanitarian reporting.
Search For Common Ground Project Manager, Gambo Wada, appreciated the participants for availing themselves for the workshop, pointing out that the purpose of the training was to enable imbibe mitigation strategies while covering conflict zones.
Some participants who spoke appreciated Search For Common Ground for the opportunity to learn, stating that the workshop was an eye opener.
They promised that they would apply the do no harm approach in telling their stories.