ToroDev in Partnership with Rwenzori Journalist Forum held a one day knowledge sharing workshop with the Rwenzori journalists on post election reporting and broadcasting on 23rd/ September 2016 at ToroDev Resource centre.

 ToroDev in partnership with Rwenzori Journalist forum organized a one day knowledge sharing workshop where 22 journalists mainly the moderators of talkshows and new editors/ reporters from the 10 local radio stations located in the 3 districts of the Kabarole, Kyenjojo, and Kyegegwa and different print and electronic media (New Vision, Daily Monitor, Red paper etc) attended the workshop. The workshop was facilitated by Mr Tumwine Henry the lecturer of Uganda Pentecost University – Fort- Portal.

ED ToroDev Mr. Baguma K. Johnstone giving his opening remarks during the workshop

The main objective of the workshop was to share with news reporters, editors, talk show moderators and print reporters the basic skills that will enable them do their watch-dog role in a professional way during post elections period and to empower and orient, share experience with  journalists on how they can engage elected duty bearers and local citizens in fruitful live radio debate, how they will follow up the pledges and promises made by the leaders, how they will hold leaders accountable etc. 

“After this workshop we expect you to clearly identify important issues that need attention during the Post election period, also to have enough improved understanding and knowledge on how best duty bearers can be engaged in fruitful live radio debates and follow up the pledges made by the leaders. Journalists need to be equipped with more knowledge of being watch dogs, good communicators and public educators”. Said Mr. Tumwine Henry the facilitator of the Workshop.

  

Mr. Tumwine Henry sharing with journalists during the workshop

If you are doing your journalism work and you are always appreciated by the leaders every single day then you are doing a disservice to the community but if you are always appreciated by the community you are doing a big service to the community and you need to keep it up.

 After straight news you need to follow up the stories, the problem you journalists have is you broadcast the story and you don’t follow them up to know what happened next to keep informing the listener, Journalists need to interpret stories in a simple language to the people for everyone to understand, before you close the chapter of the story first make sure you have full information about what you are going to share with others, interpret it well and then explain to people to bring more sense and meaning.

Journalists shared their work experiences and some extracts are shown below;                      

v  “As a journalist I was not very sure for the next step after election period.  I was out of ideas , but am happy that this knowledge sharing workshop has opened my mind and I have full knowledge of what Am meant to do during the post election periods”. Said Mwebembezi Fred Moderator of talk show on Gold Fm.

Fred Mwebembezi sharing his experience with other journalists during the workshop

  “I confess that I have not been following up the many pledges made by the leaders after  hosting them on live radio debates but this workshop has made me understand that following up issues said by leaders is very important if we are to  make impact at the end of the day.” Said Birungi Robbinah Moderator Kyegegwa Development Radio

v  “Through this knowledge sharing workshop I have got to know that we are meant to interpret stories in a simple language to enable everyone understand issues we are broadcasting we need to go deeper and explain these issues as much as we can for example issues related to budgets, laws, roles of duty bearers and others”.  Said Patra Kirungi News editor KRC.

Patra Kirungi news editor KRC Fm sharing her experience

  “Violence, harassment and discrimination against any journalist based on gender, race, sexual orientation or disability should not be tolerated under any circumstances, so this calls upon Rwenzori Journalist forum to be very well organized to fight for the rights of journalist. Editors and news organizations should employ a zero tolerance policy”. Said Tumwiine the facilitator of the workshop.

v  “As journalists lets avoid financial arrangements and other activities that will create a conflict of interest with duty bearers we regularly cover or receive other economic benefits from them to make news decisions about them”.  Said Kaahwa Kansengerwa the moderator on KRC Fm.

v   In this post election period, integrity, fairness, independence and transparency are crucial to our work, hence should be considered in all that we do, let us decline gifts or token from the duty bearer, let’s pay for our own meals and transport our selves rather than accepting payment by a source unless circumstances make this impractical”. Said Bamanyisa Patrick President Rwenzori Journalist forum.

 A t the end of the workshop it was recommended that;

        i.            There is need to continue sensitizing and training the journalists in government policies (health policy, agric, education, and finance policy), local government act, the constitution, etc

      ii.            The Journalists need to be highly engaged and kept active through supporting their quarterly knowledge sharing workshops to be organized by Rwenzori journalist forum.

    iii.             They is need for continued sensitization on Ethics and Standards Policy, general reporting standards and   Key Principles in journalism.

 We are grateful to all our development partners for the financial & technical support.