A non-governmental organisation, HumAngle, has trained journalists in Benue State on solutions and data journalism as part of efforts to strengthen reporting and counter misinformation in conflict-affected communities. The training was organised under the project, “Countering Misinformation and Promoting Peace in Nigeria’s Middle Belt” (CMPP), with Benue and Plateau states selected as focal states. This project aims to equip journalists with the skills to identify and counter misinformation.
The Programme Officer of HumAngle, Khadijat Oscar, said the project is sponsored by Journalism by Human Rights (JHR) and the Canadian High Commission to put verification, data and solution journalism tools directly into the hands of reporters working in the North-Central region. The initiative was aimed at equipping journalists with the skills to identify and counter misinformation, prevent its escalation and produce balanced, holistic stories, particularly in conflict-affected communities.
According to Oscar, the project goes beyond journalists, as HumAngle also plans to engage state actors, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations and religious leaders who have direct contact with people at the grassroots. She said the engagement was necessary because combating misinformation required the collective efforts of different stakeholders. This approach will help to develop a coordinated response framework to counter misinformation.
Oscar stressed the importance of accuracy in journalism, particularly when reporting from conflict-affected areas, noting that journalists should not sacrifice accuracy for speed. She noted that one of the mantras from one of the training sessions is that it is accuracy before speed. It is not just about breaking the headlines; it is about telling the stories the way they should be told, considering the sensitivity of these conflict-affected areas.
The training included sessions on “Context Setting: Scenario Activity” and “Neutrality, Sensitivity, and Preserving Journalistic Standards” by Mr Johnstone Kpilaakaa, “Human Rights Journalism: Finding the Stories and Reporting them Ethically” by Fidelis Mbah and “Verification in Low-resource Environments” by Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu. These sessions aimed to equip journalists with the necessary skills to report accurately and ethically.
Oscar also urged journalists to pay greater attention to the human consequences of conflict rather than focusing solely on casualty figures and statistics. She said it is expected that the project would also encourage stronger collaboration between journalists and community and faith-based organisations, saying such collaborations would help bridge existing gaps between the media and grassroots organisations.
The project aims to achieve a shift in the mindset of journalists regarding how they report conflict and other sensitive issues. HumAngle hopes to bring the various stakeholders together to discuss ways of countering misinformation and eventually develop a coordinated response framework to help de-escalate situations triggered by false or misleading information. This will help to promote peace in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Key points
- The project aims to equip journalists with skills to identify and counter misinformation.
- The training was organised under the project, “Countering Misinformation and Promoting Peace in Nigeria’s Middle Belt” (CMPP).
- The project is sponsored by Journalism by Human Rights (JHR) and the Canadian High Commission.
