NGOs Train Journalists On Conflict Analysis And Reportage

Two NGOs on Thursday in Lafia, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), commenced a three-day training workshop for journalists in the North-Central states on “peace journalism”.

Our correspendent reports that the workshop, with the theme, “Analysing and Reporting Conflicts,” is aimed at educating journalists on conflict analysis and resolution.  

The workshop was organised by two NGOs, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Foundation, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The National President of NUJ, Mr Mohammed Garba, represented by Mr Wilson Bako, in his opening remarks, described the workshop as timely, in view of next year’s general elections.

He commended the organisers and urged  them to organise a similar training for media owners and editors, to enable them to introduce their experiences in their editorial policies.

The organisers of the workshop, Mr Ulrich Thum, from JDPC, and Country Representative of KAS foundation, Dr Habil Paehler, had earlier stressed the need for Nigerian journalists to embrace “peace journalism”.

They said that doing so would enhance good governance.

Paehler said that his organisation believed in dialogue and was interested in seeing that Nigerians got what they needed and deserved.

The Chairman of the Benue council of NUJ, Mr Terlumun Nyifan, urged journalism institutes and Mass Communication Departments to build peace journalism into their curricula.

He said there could be no development without peace, stressing that journalists should therefore be properly taught in the rudiments of peace journalism.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Zailani Bappa from Bauchi, thanked the organisers, and promised to adequately utilise what they would learn on reportage.

The workshop drew participants from Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Bauchi States.