BY: Benjamin Chisale
Upper Shire Press Club Journalists based in Mangochi and Machinga gained technical knowledge and learned skills about integrating effective reporting and roles and responsibilities of Media In disaster risk management into their beats during media training organized by Mangochi District Council and Machinga District Council respectively.
The 2-day training workshop was held in Liwonde at G.Malina lodge in Machinga district on 16th and 17th June respectively.This workshop brought together media proffessionals from eastern region of Malawi who were exposed to desirable journalistic behavior regarding the reportage of DRM issues before, during and at post-disaster periods.
In the ever dynamic disaster landscape,the media proffessionals were also put through modules, response skills and techniques primed to bring positive impact to the citizens in Mangochi and Machinga Districts In prevention and mitigation of disasters, including the dissemination of information about public safety during the disaster.
Exhortation Media proffessionals to be up to the speed with the dynamics of the times,the Machinga District Council Public Relations Officer Patrick Njawala stressed the overriding importance of the Media’s role in disaster risk reduction and management.
In his remarks,the Mangochi District Commissioner,Dr Pilingu told the media to only disseminate the right information always when need rises.
“Journalists are powerful and must always provide correct information and the right message at the right time, media should also create an environment for solidarity and trust, This will help in augmenting the collective responsibility of all segments of society to tackle the challenges posed by any disaster.” Said Pilingu
The workshop featured presentations, simulation exercises and scenario building and espoused by facilitators.
The workshops has successfully prepared journalists to tell equally newsworthy stories about how communities are building their resilience against disasters in Mangochi and Machinga. It has also helped reporters to write scripts, gather the footage and do the voiceover, and edit hazard-specific stories.