«The role of media in election periods”: this was the main theme discussed in Buta, Bas-Uélé, Oriental Province, by the representative of the Public Information Office of MONUSCO, on the side-lines of the workshop on human rights and elections, held from 20 to 23 April. This training took place at the headquarters of the Radio communautaire orientale (RACOR) and was attended by three media operating in Buta.

The representative of the Public Information office of MONUSCO/Kisangani, Mr. Bilamekaso TCHAGBELE, delivered a presentation allowing the participating media professionals to revisit such things as journalistic formats, holding editorial conferences, and reporting techniques.

After that, the participants heard a presentation by André Kitenge, a Kisangani-based Radio Okapi journalist and head of the Congolese National Press Union’s Ethics and Professional Conduct Commission in Oriental Province, on the importance of observing ethical rules in reporting information, especially during election periods.

At the end of the session, one of the participating journalists remarked that if MONUSCO could organize meetings of this kind regularly, it would help journalists to improve their professional skills and be able to provide reliable, fair and balanced information and so contribute to educating the population.

Lansana Dabo