By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Bolgatanga, Dec 13 GNA – A two-day capacity building training aimed at enhancing skills of media personnel and social media influencers to detect, address hate speech, misinformation and increase adoption of conflict-sensitive reporting practices have been held in Bolgatanga.
The journalists were also taken through misinformation, crisis communication, fact-checking and the need to adhere to ethical standards of journalism in crafting news headlines that would not incite conflict, especially in times of heightened political tensions.
The step-down training for the media practitioners was made possible by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Agricultural Governance, Resilience and Economic Empowerment (AGREE) Activity interventions.
The training for the media practitioners who were drawn from various media outlets across the Upper East Region also focused on strengthening collaboration among them to promote peace and social cohesion.
Mr. Albert Sore, a journalist and beneficiary of the Training of Trainers (TOT) courtesy by the USAID AGREE Activity, who took colleague media practitioners through conflict-sensitive reporting, underscored the need for them not to use derogatory comments in their reports to incite factions in conflict.
He said it was incumbent on media practitioners to verify their facts and report in a manner that would not fuel already tensed parties in conflict to react in ways that will be detrimental to the peace of the people and the country at large.
Ms. Fauzia Ayinpogbila Issifu, Assistant Program Manager at the Upper East Regional Peace Council and also a beneficiary of the TOT , said every conflict had its root cause and it was important as media practitioners to understand that and report appropriately.
She noted that because of the long-lasting impact that conflict creates, it was difficult to resolve completely and urged media practitioners to be mindful of what they report on so as not to trigger and escalate conflicts being managed.
Mr. Jarvis Avoka, a participant, expressed gratitude for the capacity enhancement training and added that “this workshop has exposed us to new dynamics about conflict and has evoked our sensitivity in reporting effectively in conflict situations.”
Mr. Gaspard Atanga Adongo, a Journalist with Word FM in the Bolgatanga East District said the training was beneficial as it had repositioned him to report effectively without escalating tensions.
GNA