Over 30 journalists coverged in Kano, for a one day training on ‘conflict sensitive reporting.
The event tagged get involved, dialogue and improve project, witnessed large turn out of media practitioners from print, broadcast and new media, within and outside the state.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer Stallion Times, Alhaji Isiyaku Ahmed explained that, the objectives of the session is to encourage journalists to provide, accurate, objective and balanced reporting.
He maintained that, the workshop was organized to remind journalists, on their constitutional roles to hold government accountable, as well as provide an opportunity for engagement on ethical issues on Journalism, especially on issues regarding conflicts.
Isiyaku noted that, stallion times had supported 6 journalists with funding, to write investigative stories under it’s GDRIP project.
” more funding opportunities still exist for investigative stories “he said.
In a remark , the Chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists Kano council, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim stressed that, journalism is performance driven, where one has to have the passion to practice.
He pointed out that, sec.22 of the Nigerian constitution protects and gives journalists the mandate to practice, saying that, conflict sensitive reporting centers around reporting issues or problems with caution.
“a Journalist should be confident and try as much as possible to have the required values”
Presenting a paper titled ‘conflict sensitive reporting and safety of journalists’ Dr. Rukayya Yusuf Aliyu of the department of information and media studies, Bayero university Kano (BUK),noted that, several journalists were harmed, attacked and unlawfully detained, while carrying out their constitutional duties.
She emphasized the need, to maintain safety at all times, in addition to understanding the content and editorial factors, by avoiding unconfirmed facts in a haste to break the news.
“understanding the situation, root cause, consequences, adherance to code of ethics, accuracy,objectivity”she said.
Some of the participants who spoke to Radio Nigeria, Rukayya Umar from Radio Kano, Aliyu Usman from Solace base online newspaper, and Nafi’u from NTA Kano ,described the training as apt.
The one day training workshop on conflict sensitive reporting, was organized by stallion times, in collaboration with MacArthur foundation.
Cov/Khadija Aliyu.
