JOURNALISTS POISED TO ENGAGE IN PEACE PROCESS 

BY MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM

Peace journalism has to do with coverage and report of conflict issues without bias and none violent response to conflict for crisis resolution. It is the responsibility of journalists to contribute in peace building especially is crisis situations.

The news media in the Northwest region is expected to engage in the journalism profession with an extra zeal to promote justice and peace.

The NGO known as Charmers Media and Communication Consults CHAMECC, organised a two day workshop to adorn journalists with skills in practicing peace journalism. From the 5th to the 6th of December, at Central Park Hotel, Bamenda. Close to thirty journalists received lessons on how to promote justice, build peace and support mediation in their daily task of gathering, processing and dissemination of news and information.

The Executive Coordinator of CHAMECC Blasius Charles Nji made it clear at the start of the workshop that the arena was necessitated by the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon which has made peace fragile in the Country’s Northwest region.  He said the purpose is to enable pressmen and women to practice journalism that would ensure justice and peace in the crisis stricken North West region. Mr Nji coordinated the seminar with resource person John Mankefor. Mr Mankefor facilitated the session and ensured that journalists are fully absorbed in the peace and justice process.
Journalists of the broadcast, television, newspaper and online media were told to get involved in an array of activities that can help reinstate peace: embrace peace journalism, report all activities of  belligerents with balance, report effects of the crisis, do public service announcements, report the cost borne by the common man in a crisis situation, report the problems faced by women and girls in a crisis situation, do programs that would engage stakeholders in the peace process, be accurate in relaying information, respect privacy, present issues in conflict free manner, avoid inflaming facts by being emotional, avoid being partisan, respect the general ethics of journalism and stay safe.

Also at the workshop, participants reflected on how the Northwest Media can contribute to peace building at various levels.  All journalists were awarded certificates after the workshop

After the session, journalists are looking forward to be aggressive in the peace process through their profession. CHAMECC expects the news media to utilise skills gained at the workshop by simple acts of the journalism profession that would mediate for justice and peace for a tranquil northwest region.

According to Newspaper Journalist Wifer Jenny Hans, he would use his pen to write peace, talk peace and preach peace thanks to the seminar by CHAMECC.
“I have learned a lot from this workshop about peace journalism. Peace journalism is something I had little knowledge on, now I am going back determined to practice this profession with a different view. I am so grateful to CHAMECC” Njoke Raisa of the  broadcast media gave her remark.

The workshop that trained journalists on promoting justice and peace came to light under sponsorship of The Canadian Fund for Local Initiative CFLI in partnership with CHAMMECC. Apart from journalists, the beneficiaries of the project include five hundred men, two thousand women, one thousand boys and one hundred girls. All these categories of persons are being imparted capacity building skills through various means for justice and peace. Some have been  taking part in workshops organised by CHAMECC while others shall be trained  in the course of the ongoing project.