To ensure conflict issues are reported in a manner that breeds tolerance, Search For Common Ground (SFCG), an organisation under the Promoting and Protecting Freedom of Religion and Belief (PPFoRB) project has equipped journalists with basic sensitive reporting skills.

At a three-day training held recently in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, journalists were taken through common principles of conflict transformation, sensitive approaches, and key violence concepts, which borders on finding a common ground to contents that could illicit conflict and bring division among religions and cultures.

Project Manager, PP FoRB, Daniel Ogabiela, said that over the years, there has been a lot of insensitive reporting from a lot of media houses, especially on religion, which has exacerbated conflicts.

“So, we thought that organising the training for media practitioners would reduce conflicts and insensitive reporting.”

While considering the media as stakeholders to the success of the project, he said that the essence is to increase awareness around freedom of religion and belief, while heightening sensitisation among media houses on conflict-sensitive reporting.

“I see a lot of shifts in perspective and a lot of synergy with the media practitioners, and working in collaboration to see that through reporting violence and conflict are reduced to the barest minimum.”

Speaking at the event, Senior Media Officer, SFCG, Katlong Dasat, said that while some media reports is focused on fair reportage, others are interested in sensational headlines without paying attention to the havoc it might incite.

She added that through training, journalists are able to have a mindset shift, and understand people’s perceptions and perspectives in order to promote nation-building and peace for the good of all.