Take keen interest in Conflict sensitive reporting – Female Journalists Urged

Female journalists in Northern Ghana have been urged to take keen interest in reporting on conflict and peace building.

They are advised not to exacerbate the situation and cause more harm with their reportage, but rather report the impact of these conflicts and project how development has been taken aback due to the conflict.

Father Doc. Clement Aapengnuo, the project lead for COGINTA Ghana made this call during a two-day workshop on conflict and gender sensitive reporting, for female journalists from northern Ghana.

He noted that journalist have a role in reechoing the fact that violence is not the way to go no matter the situation at hand.

He thus called on female presenters to get the experts to give the accurate information on conflict and peace building, rather than saying things that will cause more harm.

On his part the Director of communications at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Mr. Haayi Moomin, emphasized the need for objectivity during conflicts and gender reporting.

He tasked the participants to begin to Contextualize and frame their reports, stating that it is very important to do so as journalists.

“If you know your audience, it helps to adequately report to address them. Let us be mindful of the kind of frames we want to create in the minds of people when we report”.

Hajia Alima Sagito Saeed the executive director of SWIDA-GH, tasked the female participants to zoom into gender sensitive reporting when covering conflict issues as it will capture concerns bothering on women, children, men, the elderly and the poor and rich alike.

The project which was funded by the US department of State’s bureau of educational and cultural affairs with Meridian international center as the implementing partner was themed, “Empowering women in media for peace and stability in Northern Ghana”.

Source:Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif