14 December 2017 - Voinjama - Driven by the initiative ’Gender Sensitive Reporting; fairer portrayal of Women in the Media’, the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) trained journalists in Voinjama, Lofa County from 28 to 30 November 2017.

The project was funded by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)’s Quick Impact Project to strengthen the skills of journalists and editors to analyze facts, issues and data from a gender perspective.

The three-day training was attended by 15 male and female journalists from the Foya, Zorzor and Voinjama Districts.  This training opportunity was extended also to the three journalists from neighboring Bong County. “The objective of this training is to build the capacity of local journalists in gender sensitive reporting. We are training them on how to report on issues affecting women and how to portray women in the media,” said the FeJAL Coordinator Ms. Siatta Scott Johnson.

The training’s methodology was segregated in two segments; theoretical learning and interactive practical exercises undertaken by the participants. Topics covered included the gender analysis framework for media, the gender perceptions and expectations, the gender-based violence and ethics, sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse and media advocacy.

The project was highly valued by the participating journalist. “I am now better equipped to train my colleagues on the importance and norms of gender sensitive reporting,” said Mr. Tokpa Tarnue, Manager of Radio Kintoma in Voinjama at the end of the training. “This is crucial due to the high number of gender-based violence cases being reported in the county. Secondly, with most female colleagues being announcers, I would promote their empowerment by considering them for leadership roles such as editors and programme directors”, he said.

Both participants and trainers thanked UNMIL for sponsoring this highly beneficial project. “We appreciate the collaboration with UNMIL and hope we can implement more projects together. Judging from the issues identified during the training in Lofa County, we know there is a lot more to be done in terms of boosting the skills of community journalists,” said Ms. Johnson of FeJAL.

Edited by: Shpend Berbatovci