GREEN RADIO LISTENERS AFFECTED BY THE EACOP, AJOP JOURNALISTS TRAINED IN BASIC REPORTING TECHNIQUES

Friday, July 15th, 2022 | By

Journalists from the Albertine region under their umbrella Albertine Journalists’ Platform (AJOP) together with Community Green Radio listeners’ club members from the areas affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project have been equipped with basic skills in community Journalism.

Albertine Journalists’ Platform (AJOP), formed under the auspice and guardianship of the Sustainability school project, brings together all journalists from different media houses in the Oil region with an aim of imparting knowledge and skills to enhance their capacity to report on issues that affect the communities they serve.

The training that took place at ATKON hotel in Kiboga town council in May this year attracted journalists from media houses from the districts of Hoima, Kakumiro, Kibaale, Kiboga, Buliisa and Kyankwanzi. It also attracted Community Green Radio listeners’ representatives and the Project affected persons from Luanda, Kibiga sub-county in Kiboga distrct and areas of Nabidondolo, Gayaza all in Kyankwanzi district.

The training that dwelled on imparting knowledge on the issues that need coverage in the community and building the capacity of the journalists was facilitated by Prof. Adolf Mbainefrom Makerere Universitydepartment of mass Communication. Prof. Mbaine called upon the Journalists and Community members to embrace the skills enhancement for the wellbeing of the communities.

“The purpose of imparting the basic community reporting skills is to enable the journalists and the community reporters to enhance your skills in reporting about the vast issues affecting the community” Prof. Mbaine elaborated.

Prof. Mbaine said that most journalists have not taken keen interest in acquiring basic skills that enable them to multi-task yet Journalism is a very sensitive profession that is affected whenever the economy and other factors change.

Julius Kyamanywa, the station manager -Community Green Radio station said that the aim of convening the Journalists under the Albertine Journalists’ platform is meant to create avenue for reviewing how different media houses carry on their profession given the acquired skills.

“The platform creates an avenue through which journalists from the different media houses can come together and share knowledge on professionalisms based on different issues that affect the community” said Kyamanywa.

Meanwhile the Community Green Radio listeners’ clubs members from Kiboga and Kyankwanzi also revealed that being involved in a capacity building meeting with professions like Journalists exposes them to sharing ideas that help them improve their livelihood, conserve the environment better and other key areas of life.

Asuman Ssembatya, the chairperson for Bwakedde Butya listeners’ club in Nabidondolo parish-Kyankwanzi district also expressed gratitude for being considered as important community members by NAPE under the sustainability school project.

Allan Kalangi, the Sustainability school project manager revealed that the all avenues have been created for the Journalists and the community members to learn more about what is required of them to practice good journalism but they should embrace the skills to move to a greater level.