A week-long intensive training workshop for selected journalists and media practitioners in Northern Ghana has begun in Tamale.
It is to equip participants with the essential skills needed to report on conflicts responsibly and sensitively. Participants would gain insights into identifying and understanding the root causes of conflicts, reporting with impartiality and accuracy, avoiding inflammatory language, and promoting dialogue.
Organised by DW Akademie, the workshop is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of media practitioners in Northern Ghana and empowering them to champion responsible journalism that fosters peace and stability in the region.
Mrs Sheila Mysorekar of DW Akademie, who facilitated the first day of the training, underscored the importance of journalists understanding conflict profiles, background stories, root causes, involved actors, and conflict dynamics to report comprehensively and responsibly.
She emphasised the role of journalists in promoting peace, saying "In the dynamic and diverse landscape of Northern Ghana, journalism plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception and fostering peace. We believe this training will equip journalists and correspondents with the needed skills to report responsibly."
She said factors such as unequal resource distribution, poor communication, unresolved grievances, and power struggles could trigger conflicts.
She emphasised need for journalists to understand the roles of various actors in conflict zones, seek diverse sources of information, and ensure all perspectives were fairly represented in their reports.