Mogadishu, 18 February: Three-Day training on the hostile environment and first aid for 15 female journalists from different media houses in Mogadishu was concluded today. Somali Women journalists (SWJ) in collaboration with the US Embassy in Somalia conducted the training.
During the training, the female journalists were taken through essential topics that will equip them with the necessary skills that should be employed while reporting from hostile environments as well as lessons on first aid which help the journalists safe their lives if they encounter incidents of attacks or other dangers and the safety of the journalists.
“Thanks for the training,” the participants said.
The participants welcomed the training calling is invaluable knowledge for the female journalists working in Somalia.
“I’ve acquired valuable knowledge that will help me report diligently in hostile environments. I believe it has also opened my years. I have to be vigilant always. I know how not to risk my life now,” said Kowthar Abdullahi Mohamed, a participant.
Echoing Kowthar’s sentiments, Fatma Abdifatah Muse, another participant said that she learnt valuable skills, including how to give first aid to her colleague in case they encounter incidents of attacks while reporting from hostile areas.
Opportunities for future training
The trainees thanked SWJ and US Embassy for conducting such an essential training and promised to pass the knowledge they acquired from the training. To their fellow journalists. They asked for more trainings on similar subjects to build up their journalistic skills and professionalism.
In her closing remarks, Nasrin Mohamed Ibrahim, a deputy chair of SWJ underlined that other training that will build the awareness and skills of the female journalist will be conducted in the near future.
“Female journalists must work hard and make good use of the important skills they gained. I’m also grateful to the US Embassy in Somalia for their commitment to support the female journalists with these kinds of training that will impact their lives,” she added.
On the other hand, training facilitator, Ahmed Mohamed Sharif stated that it is crucial to expand training that covers hostile environment and first aid to build the skills and expertise of the female journalists.
“This training will equip the participants with the necessary skills that should be employed while reporting from hostile environments as well as the first aid which is also important for such conditions,” he said. “For sure; without doubt, the training will contribute to the professionalism of the female journalists in the country.”
Somalia is an environment where journalists (male and female) have to cover terror attacks or clans’ conflict or violence on an intermittent basis. The focus of the training is on how best media stories can be developed and reported from areas of high-risk and the precaution measures the journalists have to employ during reporting from those dangerous areas.
Somali journalists always cover terror attacks that will expose them to high risks. Many journalists died or maimed in those attacks, and this was attributed to lack of training for Somali journalists on the hostile environment and first aid.
Late last year, Somali Women Journalists conducted training on Digital Media and Storytelling for Somali female journalists that was drawn from the mass communication platforms (TV, Radio and digital) in Mogadishu. The training endowed female journalists with storytelling techniques and basic video editing and productions for digital media platforms.
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