SFCG urge Niger Delta journalists to prioritise peacebuilding in reports

The European Union-funded organisation, Search for Common Ground (SFCG), has urged journalists in the Niger Delta to focus reports on peacebuilding with the aim of eradicating violence, enthroning peace, and promoting progress in the oil-rich region.

The charge was given at a three-day Refresher Common Ground Training organized for journalists from Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta states.
The training was designed to equip newsmen with relevant skills on how to contribute to peacebuilding efforts through their reports.
The program is part of the European Union-sponsored Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta Project, implemented by Search for Common Ground and other partners.

In the past, reports about the Niger Delta had been dominated by conflicts and violence across the media landscape.
Accordingly, the new approach to reporting issues in the region, including responsible truth-telling, would go a long way in changing the narratives, said SFCG.

Speaking at the training, the National Media and Digital Peacebuilding Specialist at Search for Common Ground, Mr Temisan Etietsola, emphasized the need for professionals to focus more on solutions rather than the usual adversarial approach to journalism.

The Mass Media and Information Management Coordinator, Mr Sunny Dada, also charged the trainees to be conflict-sensitive by adopting responsible truth-telling mechanisms while reporting and embracing solution journalism.

Additionally, the Mass Media and Information Management Officer of the project, Folashade Seye-Ojo, urged professionals to design and implement media programming that influences positive behavioural change toward achieving peace and development in the area.

The European Union-funded Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta Project is an 18-month initiative implemented in 66 communities across 33 Local Government Areas in 3 states of the region.

It is being implemented in partnership with Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN) and the Foundation for Peace Initiative in Niger Delta (PIND).