Newspaper and broadcast media directors in Beni attended a training workshop on peace journalism organized by the MONUSCO Public Information Division on 11-12 March 2015. The workshop sought to provide participants with an understanding of how media professionals can help restore peace in a region plagued by recurrent wars. 

At least that’s the stated ambition of journalists in Beni.  For while the MONUSCO Public Information Division did take the initiative of organizing this workshop, the theme was chosen by the local media as they are aware of their important role and the need for they involvement in the restoration of peace.
The workshop brought together twenty participants who for two days discussed issues as diverse as the social responsibility of the journalist, investigative journalism,  the importance of protecting journalists, the dangers of journalism, reporting in conflict zones; the role of media in peace building.  
The exchanges were rich, fruitful, sometimes heated, but ultimately led to a strong commitment on the part of the Beni media to act responsibly and avoid “adding fuel to the fire”.

Out of the workshop came the following main recommendations:
- Strict respect for the journalist good conduct code;
-strengthening of the practice of peace journalism in information handling and program production;
- Promoting a greater sense of responsibility within the media;
- Disseminating the lessons learned from this training to the media outlets and organizing regular refresher sessions on the practice of peace journalism.

Alain Coulibaly