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MEDIA HOUSES ADD VALUE TO PEACE JOURNALISM IN NEWSROOMS IN CAMEROON.



The importance of Peace Journalism is seeking to help editors and reporters make decisions, choosing what to report and how to report, is relatively important to media personnel and to the society when it comes to peace building.

This new model in the media landscape in Cameroon is gradually gaining steam in every news room and programmes of media houses in the country. Recently in the North West Region, over 30 journalism students from the University of Bamenda who are on internship at CBS Radio Bamenda and City FM Radio, have been schooled and baptized as new actors in Peace Journalism, effective communicators in Peace building and Conflict Transformation. 

      The workshops which were convened at the various radio stations on separate dates, thanks to their management, were both marked by capacity building topics such as Peace Journalism, effective communication, how reporters/ journalists should report without causing harm to a society, the role of a journalists in peace building, conflict transformation amongst others.


At the invitation of the media houses, the National Coordinator of the Cameroon Community Media Network CCMN, Rosaline A Obah, media, peace building, conflict transformation and Do No Harm Trainer, drilled Participants on peace journalism principles to be applied in producing balance reports paying attention to their choice of words and pictures used tilting them towards peace building. She went on to say that as communication specialists faced  with the task of  gathering news on the field, it becomes very crucial especially when it comes to reporting happenings in their communities void of demonizing, victimizing and sensational words that only propagate hate speech and violence. As such, they should learn to protect themselves and the interest of the community by being conscious of their reporting and making sure they evaluate the consequences of every story they are about to broadcast or publish. The same applies to programmes that entail feedback from the community which warrant programme presenters to educate and re-orientate the mindsets of some callers who often contribute out of sensation and will from time to time be tempted to use words that are derogatory. Instead of taking on silence, ignoring such contributions, programme presenter should educate and sensitize the community on the need to remain responsible in speech for a healthy society. 


Thanks to other inputs from trainers like PJ Jude Ntam and PJ Gemnda Emmanuel, the new generation of Peace Journalists, were enlightened on the Role of the Media in Peace Building which includes the aspect of being responsible Information providers and Interpreters, be objective Agenda setters and Watch Dogs, and promoters of a peaceful society, while learning the art of   Effective communication in Peace Building. 


Meanwhile, through a practical exercise, participants were able to write reports within the tenets of peace journalism using words and pictures that build instead of causing the escalation of conflict. As peace promoters, adding new skills on Conflict Transformation was very important in order for them to deliver the right results by being able to transform conflicts within themselves and their localities before going an extra mile to educate the public as it is often said, charity must begin at home. 


      These participants expressed joy and happiness and promised to put the knowledge gained to practice. It should be noted that, the new Student Peace Journalists will be joining Cameroon Community Media Network CCMN in the weeks ahead, a network which remains at the center of promoting Peace Journalism and community media in the country and beyond.

          At the end of the event, the newly trained student Peace Journalists received some Covid-19 kits including CCMN T-shirts to serve as ambassadors of the network and Peace Journalism in their reporting, speech and action to build the society, while staying safe of the pandemic for peace also means good health. 


John Galtung once said "By peace, we mean the capacity to transform conflicts with empathy, without violence and create a never ending process," we can only hope for better days ahead.

By Pechuqui Laurata
  

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