Some fifteen journalists have completed a mentorship program on “Media for Peace” organised by #defyhatenow Cameroon.

journalists at the end of phase 2 of the Media for Peace Mentorship program

The first phase of the program held in Limbe on November 13 and 14, where the journalists were schooled on conflict sensitive reporting with the aim of changing the narratives through the stories they write so as to foster peace.

During the second and last phase of the program that ran from February 18 to 19, focus was on upholding journalism standards. While facilitating, Eugene Forngwa cautioned the journalists on the need to always cross check every information they get before sending it out. He equally reminded the them of their role as gatekeepers.

Eugene Forngwa facilitator at the training

“The decision to filter information should be the choice of a journalist as an act of responsibility”. Eugene told the journalists.

At the end of the training, some of the participants expressed their satisfaction.

Abongwa Fodzo presenting their group work

” I think this mentorship program has actually given me greater insight into some of the things that we usually neglet particularly when it comes to conflict reporting. You know from now you are able to sit down, analyze a conflict, look at the causes of the conflict, the key stakeholders involved in the conflict, the issues involved in the conflict and how to resolve this conflict as a medium man. So this mentorship program has actually helped me to be able to know these things and then another good thing is that it is not only helping me as an individual, I have a lot of staff or colleagues that we work together and this idea I think is very necessary to start restitution with some of these colleagues to see how we can better the media landscape as a whole”. One of the participants, Abongwa Fodzo, Station manager of City FM Radio told Insight244.

“After the two mentorship sessions that we’ve held and other sessions before then because it has been a continuous learning process. I now look at stories differently. I don’t just pick a story as a story per say. I look at it from different dimensions. I try to understand what an issue is an the impact that information will cause when you send out. And I look at the actors involved and whether it’s going to be for any good at all”. Another participant, Andrew Nsoseka, Desk Editor of The Post Newspaper said.

Andrew Nsoseka, Desk Editor The Post Newspaper

Speaking to Insight244 at the end of the training, #defyhatenow content creator Kendi Gikunda, visiting from Kenya, told the journalists to be watchful of what they report.

Kendi Gikunda

“As a journalist, what you need to be aware of is there are little of nuances when you are reporting there are so many things that people, not on the ground are not seeing and you as a journalist is seeing so you should always remember that what ever you report impact on how people perceive information. Its like how marketing works basically. You see, you either buy or you see, you are influenced to do”. Gikunda said.

Satisfied with the program, Abongwa Fodzo thinks more media persons need to benefit from the knowledge given by #defyhatenow.

“I think defyhate is doing a great great job, we just want to give them cudus and to encourage them to continue doing it. I think there’s a big gap there that still needs to be filled. This void needs to be filled. And defyhate we are apealing that they should go further to train more and more media men and then try to improve on our reporting in one way or the other”. He explained.

By Sandrine M.