training where 60 Journalists from the 15 local radio stations located in the
seven districts of the Rwenzori Region were able to attend. The training offered journalists with basic skills needed in covering the whole process from pre-election to post-election, looking at the various stages of the electoral
process, elements of an election and the areas where distortions
can occur,
either through deliberate actions or poor organization. The selection of the participants at least 80% was from the radio stations and 20 % from other
media. The selection of participants
was 50% female and 50% male. The two days journalists
training workshop was conducted on 28th – 29th July 2015 and the training was facilitated by two consultants from Uganda Radio
Network.
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| Participants during a training session at St. Joseph’s Inn Virika on 28th July 2015 |
The
executive director ToroDev Mr. Baguma John stone Kumaraki urged journalists
from the 15 local radio stations of the Rwenzori Region to engage local and
political leaders to deal with issues that affect grass root community members.
He was speaking at the opening of a 2 days training of Journalists at St.
Joseph’s Inn Virika. The journalists trained included news reporters, talk show
hosts, print and news editors who acquired basic skills that will enable them
to cover election processes in a fair, balanced & non-partisan way.
 |
| ToroDev Executive Director Mr. Baguma Johnstone Kumaraki giving remarks during the official opening of the training The training was facilitated by Mr. Kaija Wilson Akiiki and JK Imokola both from Uganda Radio network. |
verify information not access/capture information and in some cases many journalists
tend to tell a national story and forget a community story. If you have decided
to be a journalist, please be but do not be a journalist and at the same time a
politician, your story reporting will automatically be biased’’ said Mr. Kaija Wilson Akiiki a facilitator from Uganda Radio Network.
 |
| Mr. Kaija Wilson Akiiki, a facilitator from Uganda Radio Network during a training session |
Meanwhile JK
Imokola a trainer with Uganda Radio Network asked the trainees to look at ideas
the candidates are putting forward and then give voters a voice by looking at
their issues too. He urged the trainees to avoid personal issues of candidates,
stay clear from unsubstantiated claims, know your rights & responsibilities
and let us try to balance our stories with minority views & opinions
because the biggest defense in reporting is your professional ethics as a
journalist.
knowledge from the training will help me
to act in a professional way of
covering, all aspects of elections especially during the campaign, registration of voters, candidates and parties, the important elements that needs media attention
during election
eve, the Election Day, the day after and during the vote
count.( in pre-election, election day &
post election period)”. Said Tusime Francis the coordinator
of Rwenzori Journalist Forum.
DRT, NED, SPIDER, CIPESA & ICT4DEM for the financial and technical
support.
