At least 15 journalists from Yei in Central Equatoria State have been equipped with vital knowledge and practical skills on humanitarian reporting during a one-day round-table meeting organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with South Sudan Red Cross volunteers.
The training, held on Thursday in Yei Town, focused on strengthening ethical, accurate, and conflict-sensitive reporting on humanitarian issues affecting vulnerable communities.
The program featured interactive sessions on operational communication and humanitarian reporting, providing participants with practical approaches to responsible journalism in humanitarian settings.
Speaking during the opening and closing sessions, ICRC Representative Sebit Emmanuel urged journalists to remain professional in informing the public while ensuring their reporting does no harm to individuals and communities affected by humanitarian crises.
“We would be able to collaborate to ensure that we strengthen information for people who are affected by armed conflicts to share information which is accurate and also to ensure that the sources that sometimes obtain information are protected,” he said. “That means confidentiality is key to ensure that our work does not harm people. That is why I believe your work as journalists is to fight so that the information you get goes out in a right and clear way as it has been said or seen.”
Meanwhile, Renno Charles Mario, speaking on behalf of the participants, described the orientation as timely and impactful, saying the knowledge acquired will strengthen responsible and ethical reporting on humanitarian issues.
“I am very grateful for this training because it has changed the way I understand humanitarian work. I also learned that we have to respect the dignity of people. As a journalist, one lesson I will carry with me is to avoid stigmatizing language when reporting about persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups,” he said. “The words we use when we write our stories matter in building respect or causing harm. I will also use the humanitarian principles that I have learnt today to report responsibly and even help create a more inclusive society here in Yei.”
Participants also took part in group discussions and presentations to apply the knowledge gained, with emphasis on reporting that protects human dignity, reduces stigma against people with special needs, and upholds humanitarian principles.
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