As Somalia’s elections draws closer, Somali journalists gathered in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia on Sunday for a training on safety of journalists and Strengthening the Capacity of Journalists on Election Reporting.
The training organized by Somali Women Journalists Organization and supported by IMS-FOJO is attended by twenty female Journalists selected from different media outlets.
The aim of the training is to enhance the journalists’ skills, allowing them to better report on Somalia’s impending elections and, consequently, improve the general public’s understanding of the electoral process while maintaining their safety.
On her opening remarks, Farhia Mohamed Kheyre, the chairperson of Somali Women Journalists Organization welcomed the participants to the workshop. In her address to the trainees, she underlined the importance of the workshop to the journalists and the society at large during this electioneering period.
“This is an important training that will be useful to both the journalists, society and the country at large. It will teach the journalists different tactics that will help them cover the elections fairly and professionally and tips to stay safe during this period” said miss Kheyre.
Farhia also advised the participants to take advantage of the training workshop and put into practice the skills they gain from the workshop.
Abukar Albadri who represented IMS-FOJO thanked SWJO for organizing the training on safety of journalists and election coverage.
Explaining the relationship between the coverage of the elections and the safety of the journalists, Abukar the journalists
“During the election period, security will at stake and when the security deteriorates, journalists are often at risk, so the importance of the training workshop is to educate the journalists on how to cover the elections fairly while maintaining their safety” said Abukar Albadri.
The first two days, the training workshop will focus on the safety of the journalists and the journalists will be taken through important topics including first aid with practical while the last two days, the trainees will be taught how to cover the upcoming elections fairly and professionally.
The participants of the training voiced their eagerness to attend the training and expressed hope that they will gain skills that will help them perform their duties professionally.
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