– Seventeen journalists including 3 women from Kiliba, Sange and Luvungi took part in a training session for media professionals at the Ruzizi plaine in Uvira from 1st through 2nd July 2015. The training was organized by the Public Information Section/MONUSCO-Uvira with a view to building the capacity of journalists. For two days on end, journalists received refresher course on the rules and codes of ethics, writing techniques, different formats of a radio paper, and the scope of journalist’s profession.

They were given several practical exercises during the refresher course.

The chief of MONUSCO-Uvira sub-office who opened the workshop urged participants to make the most of the two-day training session. Ould Mohamed El Hacen expressed the hope to see the teachings received “help them improve their performance, especially in the highly sensitive and restive areas of the Ruzizi Plaine where media professionals are particularly needed”. He further highlighted the role to be played by journalists in the promotion of democracy, good governance and civilians’ protection.

At last, the chief of MONUSCO-Sub office urged participants to show impartiality and rigor when processing their information and to ban all forms of tribal and ethnic-related references likely to fuel community tensions. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office associated to MONUSCO Justice Support Section also made a significant contribution to the training; 1st a briefing on the UN different mechanisms for journalists’ protection; 2nd sensitized participants on the risks run by journalists when practicing their profession.

Participants voiced their satisfaction for participating “in the first training at the Ruzizi Plaine”. Paulin Polepole Nyakasaza of the Rural Radio ONDS FM from Kiliba, on behalf of the participants, declared “this training will go down in the history of Ruzizi and will benefit journalists in their daily life and career. It will help resolve the shortcomings in the daily performance”. To help them implement the teachings received, participants recommended that MONUSCO equip them with means of transport and communication as well as consumables (recorders, paper…).

Jean-Tobie Okala