Video: Nigerien journalist: “A journalist’s safety should be her primary concern”

What are the main take-aways from a conflict sensitive journalism and safety training conducted by International Media Support? We asked journalist Rachida Abdoul Moumoine from Niger.

Niger is not only one of the poorest countries in the world. Conflict and terrorist actions also make it unsafe, especially for those working with journalism or rights-based issues tied to holding power groups to account.

Due to its geographical location, Niger has suffered deadly attacks from external terrorist groups from neighbouring countries like Mali, Nigeria and Libya. For Nigerien journalists, there are many threats to be aware of when covering sensitive or conflict-related stories.

Therefore, strengthening knowledge and skills of journalists to stay safe and use conflict sensitive reporting has been central to IMS’ media development programme in Niger between 2014-2017.

At a safety training in late September 2017, 35 journalists made their way to the capitol Niamey to partake in a three-day workshop where they where they were introduced to tools connected to conflict sensitive journalism, safety as well as journalism ethics.

Listen to what Rachida Abdoul Moumine from the public radio station Voix du Sahel from the Nigerien public broadcasting company ORTN has to say about the training workshop.

Read more on IMS’ work in Niger.