By joshua 
NGO charges journalists to promote peace conflict resolution in reportage
From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Nigerian journalists have been charged to adopt approaches in the gathering and presentation of news items that will promote peaceful conflict resolution in the country.
A Peace Advocate, Mr Danjuma Dawop gave the charge at a one- day State- Level Strategic Stakeholders Engagement workshop in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The workshop organised for Effective Early warning, Early Response System in Nigeria was part of the implementation of the Peace Action for Rapid and Transformative Nigerian Early Response ( PARTNER) programme.
Mr Dawop who was Lead Facilitator at the workshop said the training organised by a Non Governmental Organisation, Mercy Corps, working with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, and the Nasarawa State Peace Committee (ISPA), funded by USAID was for journalists in Benue and Nasarawa States and targeted at equipping them with conflict sensitivity guidelines in carrying out their duties.
Mr Dawop stated that the more journalists understand conflict, the more they will be able to report on events and processes that benefit the livelihoods of people involved for peaceful resolutions.
” Journalists need to be constantly reflecting on the impact of their work and on the degree to which they are meeting the needs of their audience. Not only does this mean adopting a conflict -sensitive approach to the gathering and presentation of news but it also means finding ways to write conflict -sensitive stories in an engaging and compelling manner.
“Journalists can make positive contributions towards facilitating peaceful management and resolution of conflicts. This does not mean they should promote the agenda of a particular group or advocate for a particular solution.
” If the media can use conflict analysis skills to provide better perspectives about certain conflicts, a lot of people will have better understanding of conflict and its dynamics,” he said.
According to him, the training was aimed at supporting Media professionals to understand the concept of digital peacebuilding and how to apply selected tools of conflict analysis to write impactful stories.
He explained that the workshop was also to strengthen the capacity of journalists by enhancing their understanding of conflict sensitivity and the theories that explain it for a more informed, accurate and comprehensive reportage.
The Lead Facilitator therefore encouraged media Professionals to be objective when reporting conflict -sensitive stories using the various conflict analysis tools for peace and development in the society.
In an interview with The Nigerian Post, some of the participants, Mr Isaac Ukpoju of the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) and Chairman , Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ), Nasarawa State Council, and Hajiya Amina Mohammed of Voice of Nigeria ( VON), both appreciated the organisers of the event and expressed hope that it will strengthen their capacity on reporting conflict -sensitive stories.
The journalists promised to use their media platforms to contribute their quota towards peaceful management and resolution of conflicts in their communities.
The Nigerian Post reports that the one- day State- Level Strategic Stakeholders Engagement workshop for Effective Early warning, Early Response System in Nigeria, was attended by some selected journalists in Benue and Nasarawa States as well representatives of government agencies and other development partners.