Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) has urged media practitioners in the country to adhere to the principles of truth and promote peace journalism in their work particularly when covering issues of conflict.
This call was made during a media training session held in Bulawayo focusing on the importance of peace-oriented reporting.
The Forum coordinator, Gilbert Mandende, emphasized the pivotal role of journalists as agents of peace.
“In this seminar we tried to acclimatise media practitioners to human rights issues, to have a better understanding of human rights so that there is better coverage of human rights issues. In particular we tried our best to unpack what human rights are, the distinction between civil and political rights and also the importance of them covering issues such as economic, social and cultural rights,” he said on Wednesday.
“At the end of the day, journalists considered themselves to be instruments of peace,”
Mandende underscored the responsibility of journalists to convey messages of peace , even in challenging situations where tension may arise.
“We note with concern that at times, journalists find themselves in a very difficult position, where a message of peace is not coming out but they have to make sure that the news is covered in such a way that doesn’t incite hatred or insults, despite the fact that journalists are people who might have also been insulted,” Mandende said.
The human rights activist said journalists have a duty to uphold the truth and make sure it reaches the public.
“Truth has to be said. People have a right to know the truth and the media has the responsibility to get that truth out. So it is up to the media to be able to be the instruments of the truth and to make sure that the right to truth is available, Mandende said.
“Iit is a right that then gets to the members of the public and journalists should do everything to make sure people are free to speak but speaking the truth because there is power in the truth.”
Mandende further emphasised the significance of tolerance in fostering peaceful discourse, particularly in written articles.
“Journalists have tried their best to write stories as they come out. At the moment there is the aspect of live coverage but at the time journalists write, the stories would have been covered on videos and sent across, but journalists are obliged to put the words in such a way that do not incite hatred, violence and that the truth is said in a manner that people are able to relate and tolerate each other. Tolerance is equally important in peace reporting,” said Mandende.
The human rights activists called for commitment to journalistic integrity, urging media practitioners to uphold truth, respect peace and provide platforms for diverse voices to be heard.
