GANTA, Jan. 11 (LINA) – Several community radio journalists from Bong and Nimba Counties have benefited from a two-day training aimed at strengthening their capacities in research and fact-finding.
The capacity-building training, which was held in Ganta, Nimba County from January 8-9, was conducted by the Center for Media Studies and Peace-Building (CEMESP) with financial support from the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia.
The initiative was intended to broaden the understanding of local journalists who are regarded as the main source of information for locals, on how to “stand above the dissemination of fake news about the Coronavirus ».
According to Ms. Ruth Gbarto, CEMSEP Head of Communication, the event concentrated on promoting “information dissemination integrity about COVID-19 and the enhancement of professionalism that negates fake news.”
Gbarto said knowledge gained from the training, when properly utilized by the journalists, will help better their understanding on reporting the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that it will foster best professional practices in health reporting, misinformation, media response to rumors, social media sourcing and fact-checking, and ethical principles for journalism practice in Liberia.
As part of its numerous activities, the media training group will begin to roll out several different professional media trainings for local journalists across the country with the latter being the first in a series of trainings ahead, Ms. Gbarto told journalists.
She encouraged the participants to “take very seriously” knowledge acquired from the training and utilize same as they report on the deadly Coronavirus which, she noted, is still present in the world with latest reports speaking of a dramatic increase in the number of cases in some parts of the world.
