Visionary Reports

This was during a tour by the CCMN National Coordinator   in the Region.

 Peace Journalism is important in seeking to help editors and reporters make decisions, choosing what to report and how to report, is relatively important to media personnel and the society in 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. In effect over 30 journalism students from the University of Bamenda on internship  at (Christian Broadcasting Services) 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 Transformers.

  They received the training organised by the Cameroon Community Media Network -CCMN convened at the various radios station recently. The students and staff of the radio station were drilled on different topics such as  “Peace Journalism”, “Effective communication”,  “How reporters/ journalist should report without causing harm to the society”, “The role of a journalist in peace building”, “Conflict transformation”, amongst others.

 Team leader and National Coordinator of the Cameroon Community Media Network CCMN, Rosaline Akah Obah, drilled Participants on peace journalism principles. The seasoned  media peace building and conflict transformation trainer who is also an expert in  the “Do No Harm”concept,  educated the young reporters  on how to apply peace journalism principles  in producing  balance reports paying attention to their choice  of words and pictures tilting it towards peace building.  Rosaline Akah Obah said as communication specialists faced with the task of  gathering news on the field, it is 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, she went on, they should learn to protect themselves and the interest of the community by being conscious of their reporting especially making sure 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 warrants programme presenters to educate and re-orientate the mindsets of some callers who chip in contributes 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” she added.

Thanks to other inputs from trainers like Jude Ntam and 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.

Tthrough 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.  At the end, participants expressed joy and happiness and promised to put in practice knowledge gain.

 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 centre 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.

By Pechuqui Laurata