Journalists in Kogi State have been asked to heal the wounds of past election with responsible reportage that would douse violence in the forthcoming November Governorship Election in Kogi State.
Mr. Hamza Idris, Editor, Daily Trust gave the charge at a presentation, understanding and demonstrating conflict sensitivity and reporting for peace in the Kogi Governorship election.
The media training program is organized by the EU-SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA (EU-SDGN 11) COMPONENT 4: SUPPORT TO MEDIA.
The program is being implemented by the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, lead implementing partners of Component 4 (Support to media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria EUSDGN (11) Project, holding at Treasures Suites & Conferences.
The Media expert charged practitioners in the State to ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election through professional and conflict sensitive reporting.
Mr. Hamza urged Journalists in the state to have an understanding and appreciate complexities of Kogi State so as to change the negative perception of violent election associated with the State.
While pointing out that Practitioners should have an understanding of conflict and how they occur, said 70% of conflict are media escalated, cautioned Journalists against fanning embers of violence in the Kogi State election.
The Media expert said the media can make or mar the Kogi State election, urged the media not to wait for negative report to happen, urged practitioners to be deliberate in peace building.
He urged practitioners to see their responsibility as one that should help the society, charged the media to be in the vanguard for peace and not violence.