International Justice/ICC: Oct/Nov '10, Part II

Training programme in Gulu hones reporters’ skills in advance of new Facing Justice series.

A three-week training and mentoring programme for IWPR’s broadcast journalists in northern Uganda helped to prepare the ground for the re-launch in November of Facing Justice, a biweekly radio programme on justice and human rights issues in the region.

IWPR’s International Justice programme held a week-long training session in Gulu in September, ahead of the re-launch. Senior reporter Simon Jennings travelled to Uganda with consultant broadcast trainer Louise Williams to conduct the training, alongside local staff Moses Odokonyero, Wairagala Wakabi, and Susan Kavuma. The session was followed by a mentoring programme in October on the home patch of each IWPR reporter.

The training of 12 journalists was conducted in partnership with the Uganda Media Women’s Association. The programme covered interview and production techniques for radio as well as justice reporting, addressing gender-sensitive issues and investigative reporting.

“I have learnt how IWPR focuses their stories in a more investigative manner. Human rights issues need thorough investigations,” reporter James Tweny who is based at Radio Rhino in Lira, said. “I am now much more able to choose whom to interview on different subjects.”

IWPR has produced Facing Justice since September 2009. The programme is a radio magazine featuring news, interviews and analysis, with a focus on justice and human rights issues in the wake of the 20-year war waged by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda.

The Gulu event built on the first round of training held in September 2009, enabling IWPR to expand its reporter base and advance the skills of those already reporting in the region.

“Following the launch of Facing Justice in 2009, new training modules in investigative reporting and technical sound production for radio have raised the standard of reporting among the local journalists,” said IWPR’s Uganda Radio Coordinator, Moses Odokonyero. “It has also equipped the journalists with specific editorial skills necessary for them them to chose topics and story angles relevant to the local audience.”
Facing Justice provides an opportunity for people living in northern Uganda to be informed about and contribute their views on crucial issues arising in a post-conflict setting.

With the majority of the 1.8 million people displaced by the LRA conflict having returned to their villages across the region and a fragile peace taken hold, the programme provides a valuable source of information and debate on crucial elements of daily life. Areas investigated by Facing Justice reporters include access to public services, justice and reconciliation in the wake of wartime atrocities and upholding the rule of law in northern Uganda.

“Facing Justice broadcasts critical information on justice and human rights issues to the population in northern Uganda. This will help to develop an understanding of human rights and the rule of law among our audience in order to foster debate in the region,” Odokonyero said.

Following the latest training session, the programme hit the airwaves again on November 1.

Trainees were a combination of freelance reporters and reporters working at five IWPR partner radio stations in the towns of Gulu, Arua, Lira, Soroti and Rackoko.

Mega FM, Radio Rhino, Voice of Teso, Radio Palwak and Radio Pacis broadcast Facing Justice in English and local languages. The programme is translated into Luo, Ateso and Lugbara.

IWPR’s international justice programme invests in building the skills of local journalists as well as the technical and editorial capacity of partner radio stations.

“Radio stations will benefit from the training and the knowledge and skills I got by getting quality services and also by me helping and training those who are less experienced,” said Richard Ekotu, an IWPR trainee from Voice of Teso radio.

“We would like IWPR to conduct this training with all of our reporters. There is a great lack in northern Uganda of in-depth, analytical programming on these important issues,” David Okidi, the manager of Mega FM.