A civil society advocate, Dr. Gad Peter Shamaki, and a facilitator at the recently concluded two-day seminar on training journalists on “Human Rights Reporting” organized by Amnesty International in Jos, has urged practicing journalists to prioritize personal security while embarking on assignments.
Dr. Shamaki gave security tips while delivering a lecture entitled “Safety and Protection for Journalists” at the media workshop held in Jos, Plateau State. He stressed the need for journalists’ safety, urging them to prioritize mental health, create time for relaxation, and engage in physical exercises to stay fit.
Participating journalists were also tasked with promoting justice, equity, and fairness to all, and advocating for human rights. Dr. Plangsat Dayil, in her presentation on gender-sensitive reporting in Nigeria, blamed stereotypical reports, particularly those targeting the female gender. She cautioned journalists against using derogatory phrases while reporting issues concerning women.
The resource persons who presented papers at the media training refresher course appealed to journalists to adhere to professional ethics in their daily reporting. In appreciation, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Plateau State Council, Mr. Polycarp Auta, thanked Amnesty International for facilitating logistics at the media training workshop.
Auta expressed hope that the chapel would look forward to more engagements with Amnesty International, stating that the knowledge gained during the training would be maximally utilized by members to promote human rights activities.
