Bayelsa: NGO trains Journalists on election conflict reportage

A non government organisation, Search for Common Ground, has trained no fewer than 30 journalists in Bayelsa state on best practices for reporting conflicts during and after elections.

The project manager of the group in Niger Delta region, Mr Chukwuemeka Cletus, said during the training that media reportage should always endeavour to promote peace during and after election.

According to him, objective reportage and effective peace messaging are crucial in promoting communal peace in the Niger Delta.

He disclosed that a total of 150 journalists would be trained in the course of the project, which would hold in batches.

He said: “As a body, we want journalists to acquire the necessary skills in order to adequately analyse situations that are capable of escalating into conflicts during election periods.

“We have found out that journalists can contribute towards peace building with the right reportorial skills and approach.

“Media men operating in the Niger Delta region need to be conflictsensitive due to the volatility of the region.

“The Niger Delta is tagged a no-go area, it is our belief that well skilled journalists can rewrite this story and change the narrative.

“This is the reason journalists practising in this area need to become conflict-sensitive in their reportage, they need to promote peace for the good of people living here and Nigeria at large.” He said.