Somali Journalists Participate in USAID Media Training
Mogadishu, Thursday, September 8, 2022 –Fifty journalists from radio and television stations in four regional governments in Somalia participated in a two-day training workshop, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Somalia, to improve the skills of journalists to provide more relevant and objective news, information, and human-interest stories, particularly in the areas of agriculture, education and justice. In addition, journalists learned how to apply ethical decision-making, fact-checking and conflict-sensitive reporting to their everyday work.
“What stood out for me is the research sessions I received during the two-day training – and I believe research is key to every journalist in order to gather factual information by digging deep into a topic through interview and research,” says Maryama Omar from Banadir TV
“We also learnt a lot on how to empower Somali media to strengthen our abilities as journalists to not only give people news, but also connect communities and ensure their voices and stories are heard”, she added.
A 2019 U.S government media study found that more than 60% of Somalis trust state-run radio, private radio, and international radio to “learn what’s going on in the news.” Most citizens have confidence in the media’s ability to act as a catalyst for personal and social development and are eager to learn about practical topics such as health and agriculture from radio and TV programs. However, a large percentage of Somali journalists lack the practical skills such as interviewing, research and production to produce quality informative or human-interest content.
“It is fulfilling for me since I traveled all the way from Hudur to be part of this important and timely training that has so far opened my outlook on how to report responsibly, conduct research, abide by the media ethics and emphasize on voices, views and perspectives of people at the grass-roots level; allow them access to mass media and policy makers,” said Mohamed Hassan Abdirahman from Radio Hudur.
USAID is supporting the Somali people in building a durable foundation for a more stable, democratic, and prosperous country. To learn more about our work visit www.usaid.gov/Somalia or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @USAIDSomalia.
