The TOT is part of a series of training programmes that will be conducted in three West Africa countries, namely Senegal, Niger and The Gambia, with the objective of strengthening and improving the quality of information on migration and mobility including the risks association with irregular migration and the alternatives available.as well as providing nuanced and trustworthy information to the public.
The Project which is funded by the European Union is part of a consortium led by the Italian organisation COSPE, and includes other organisations like Open Arms, Carta Di Roma, GRDR, SEEFAR and the IFJ.
The Director of the IFJ Africa Office, Pa Louis Thomasi, said that the Project is designed to improve the quality of information on migration, human mobility and related socio- economic dynamics in the three countries. ‘A key component of this Project is to develop the skills of at least 30 journalists in The Gambia, Niger and Senegal through a TOT that is based on improving information on the migrations phenomenon. The journalists who attended the TOT will be expected to train other journalists at the local level on how to report effectively on migration as well as conducting sensitisation campaigns on migration'.
The Secretary General of the GPU, Modou Joof said that the TOT is a welcomed opportunity that is offered to Gambia journalists. The Gambia, he said, like other countries in the West African sub- region has to do a lot in terms of raising awareness on irregular migration, which is affecting the lives and livelihoods of numerous families. 'There is also a need to present alternatives to irregular migration locally and opportunities for safe migration. It is hoped that the journalists who are participating in this TOT will receive the required knowledge and skills to train more journalists in rural Gambia'.
The three- day TOT which was led by media Consultant, Olivier Piot, discussed numerous issues that are considered to be essential in Migration reporting, namely, media ethics, strategies of analysing migration data, pitching news stories on migration, information management, public interest, independent journalism and migration, risk and alternatives and the role of the media in reporting migration.