CPA Training For Journalists On Children-Women Reporting Underway

By Buba Gagigo

Child Protection Alliance [CPA] has started a 3-day training for 14 journalists on children and women reporting.

The training which is being attended by journalists from the print, broadcast and online media of the country, was graced by Child Protection Alliances National Coordinator, representative of the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Welfare, and UNICEF country representative in The Gambia among others.

Speaking on behalf of the Child Protection Alliances, Lamin Fatty said the training is meant to build the capacity of journalists on how to report on children and women.

“The programme is totally geared towards- how do we strengthen the media in terms of their engagements when it comes dealing with issues of women and children,” he informed.

Harriet Bass, the representative of the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Welfare said children and women’s rights are often violated due to gaps in the professional capacity of journalists in their reporting.

“Children and women’s rights are often violated in mainstream media (both tradition and digital) – due to gaps in the professional capacity of journalists (which needs strengthening) and lack of sufficient knowledge about the essence of child and women’s rights,” she said.

The UNICEF country representative in The Gambia highlighted the four fundamental pillars the training expects to cover.

“The Guild is predicated on four fundamental pillars- a more balanced, responsible and ethical reporting on children and women; in-depth coverage of matters affecting children and women; more positive coverage of children and women; and a stronger voice for children and adolescents in the media,” added Louis Jonathan, the UNICEF country representative in The Gambia.

Prior to the training, CPA mobilised a guild consisting 14 journalists from the print, broadcast and online media. The journalists are expected to be trained on best practices in reporting matters on children and women. The UNICEF funded training being implemented by CPA is expected to be continual for 2 years.