In line with its mandate to enhance professionalism in the media, DAME is active on the training circuit. In June and August 2014, she held two workshops in Akure, Ondo State and Ibadan, Oyo State respectively on Election Reporting for participants drawn from the Southwest. 58 journalists were trained at the two workshops.The workshop was designed to expose political correspondents to how the media, by employing best professional approaches to election reporting, could add value to electioneering in Nigeria. The Nigerian Press Council funded the training whilst DAME provided the expertise. 

 

Widening the Pools of Excellence

On April 1, 2014 and May 2015, DAME also organized one-day workshops, themed, Widening The Pools Of Excellence, at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos. The workshops addressed the poor state of news reporting in the country, evidenced in the underreporting and misreporting of some categories in the annual DAME awards. The exercise as presented in 3 sessions sought to build journalistic capacity in Improving Research, Instilling Journalistic Values and Deepening News Judgment.

68 journalists from various media organizations across the country attended the first edition whilst 44 participated in the second. Media partners such as Hon. Nduka Irabor, who sponsors the Alex Ibru Lifetime Achievement Award under DAME, Sovereign Trust Insurance Limited, Punch Nigeria Limited, and Vintage Press Limited amongst others provided support.

 

Conflict-sensitive Communication and Reporting Training

Beginning from November 2014, DAME has been active in various centres equipping Nigerian journalists and spokespersons of security institutions with conflict sensitivity skills to manage better the communication aspect of the war against insurgency in the country. DAME’s partners include: the Nigeria Stabilisation and Reconciliation Programme and the Office of National Security Adviser. Whilst funding has come from NSRP, ONSA provides technical support.

Starting from Abuja in November, the training has held in Kano (December 2014), Jos (January 2015), Port Harcourt (March 2015) and Gombe (July 2015). 160 participants have been trained. The twin aim of bridging the gap of mistrust between both professional groups and honing their skills to communicate better has been achieved. What remains is to expose the bosses—the media leaders and heads of the security institutions—to similar sensitization so as to consolidate on the gains of the training.

Modules taught range from Understanding the Root Causes of Conflicts, to Information management by spokespersons, Media reporting of conflicts, Gender sensitivity in reporting, Analysis of lessons from conflicts in Africa, Understanding Stress and Trauma, Fostering partnership between spokespersons and the media.