MEDRIVE, a media hub focused on training for African journalists, has organized training for Nigerian journalists to effectively report conflicts happening in the country.
The training included practical and highly interactive sessions to ensure that knowledge is truly passed and retained.
Wemimo Adewuni, Multimedia journalist and Presenter with 99.3 Nigeria Info FM, Founder of MEDRIVE
Wemimo Adewuni, Multimedia journalist and Presenter with 99.3 Nigeria Info FM, Founder of MEDRIVE, who handled the session on Conflict Reporting highlighted the need for risk assessment by journalists before going into a conflict zone.
She also emphasized the importance of “researching about the conflict, objectivity, and need to aim for resolution, not to escalate conflicts.”
Wemimo further stressed the important role journalist plays in escalating or containing the effects of conflicts.
She also practically showed how to research a conflict, look beyond the surface, dig deep into multilayer data to produce a factual, balanced, analytical and comprehensible story
Human Rights and Constitutional lawyer, Barr Evans Ufeli taught the participants on the importance of challenging stereotypes in reporting by understanding the law.
He emphasized on the constitutional role bestowed on journalists and enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
On his part, Niran Odufayo, a crime reporter with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, in his session, shared strategies of reporting crime and conflict. He played some of his reports, which were gathered under intense situations including murders, clash between cultists in Lagos, protests, etc.
Adekunle Ajibulu, First Aid Trainer and Instructor in the Training Cadre of the Red Cross taught participants of the Conflict and Sensitive Reporting Life Saving and Resuscitation Skills needed during emergencies while reporting conflict.
Participants were paired up to practice what they had learnt about clearing airwaves, giving mouth to mouth and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation while calling for help.
Ajibulu also explained the difference between scars and burns, and how to manage fractures while waiting for medics to arrive the scene.
The 88 applications received from 12 states namely Rivers, Oyo, Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto, Ogun, Enugu, Edo, Osun, Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara, Bayelsa, and Imo, for the Sensitive and Conflict Reporting reflects the dire need of journalists to be trained on this important subject and other development issues.
MEDRIVE, which was founded one year ago, has trained over 120 journalists from five states in Nigeria and mentored 40. The training have included Story Crafting, Impact Journalism, Using Social Media for New Age Journalism, Elections Reporting, Grants Writing, and the latest centered on Conflict Reporting, targeting journalists reporting crime and conflict.
