UNCG sharpens reporters skill’s

The United Nations Communication Group or UNCG has ended a two-day capacity building workshop for journalists covering the UN Mission in Monrovia. The training started Tuesday and ended Wednesday with each participant certificated.

Reporters learned among others, how to report on Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Sustainable Development Goals and Ethical Reporting as well as the role of journalists in covering events.

According to UNCG’s conduct and discipline team, even experienced journalists face difficulty in reporting on SGBV cases, especially when attempting to adapt a survivor-centered approach by putting the best interest of survivors first, applying a “Do no harm strategy.”

The team said reporting on SGBV can be challenging, especially where tradition and religion play an important role in everyday life. Reporters were also taught how to report on SDGs. According to facilitator Mohammed Boakai of UNDP, journalists need to strengthen or emphasize political commitment for SDGs. 

He said the first step is for the media to domesticate SDGs, knowing the elements of the government and the data of the element. Also speaking, the President of the Press Union of Liberia or PUL, Kamara A. Kamara reminded that the media’s role in the upcoming elections is to minimize harm and ensure accountability. 

Kamara said journalists need to be timely and professional in their reportage ahead of the pending elections next year.

By Bridgett Milton-Editing by Jonathan Browne