At #media4peace workshop in Yaounde: Journalists schooled on professionalism in conflict reporting.

The workshop was within the framework of regional workshops on sensitive reporting on conflicts. It was organised by nonprofit organisation, #defyhatenow. 

It aimed at training journalists on how to report during conflicts. One of the lessons was focused on understanding the social and political context of Cameroon. 

Addressing participants during the workshop, journalist, Paul B. Mahel, schooled them on the importance of maintaining professionalism.

He also encouraged journalists to always endeavour to identify the type of conflicts they are reporting. This, he added, is to avoid fueling tension or conflict through the use of sensitive words.

In his presentation, Mahel said to be able to understand the sociopolitical context of Cameroon as a journalist, it is necessary to study the history of Cameroon; from the British and French mandates, independence and reunification and post-reunification.

The trainees of the media4peace workshop also received lessons on truth and the fact that it cannot be disputed. 

According to Mahel, journalists cannot properly carry out their profession if they detach from reporting truth. Thus journalists were called upon to be independent in their job so as to be able to give facts as they occur. 

Staying factual 

Speaking to the press after the workshop, Paul Mahel, said “the only advice I give to journalists is to be as professional as possible”. He called on journalists to detach themselves from affiliations when reporting. 

“Let us be professional, let us do our work. Let us avoid taking sides; our job is to collect, treat and disseminate information,” Mahel added.

He went ahead to say that information gathering should be done on the basis of facts. “Let’s stay factual,” Mahel noted

Talking about the upcoming elections which is a critical moment for journalists, he emphasised that journalists should be mindful of the things they publish or broadcast.

The second day of the training ended with a practical exercise during which the participants were partitioned into groups of five members each. 

Each group had as task to demonstrate actions perpetrated by the media during elections. In addition, the groups had to explain how these actions can affect elections.

By Ngange Glory Yinyu (Journalism student on internship) 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3206 of Thursday August 22, 2024