A non-governmental organisation has moved to train Mombasa and Kwale counties journalists on conflict sensitive reporting.
The training by WeWorld, under the Kujenga Amani programme, hopes to enhance development, resilience peace and stability in Kenya.
The training brought together 30 journalists, social media influencers, and content creators from various media outlets and entertainment platforms.
It is a three-year pilot project co-funded by the European Union and Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano.
Journalists will occasionally participate in conflict sensitive training sessions and projects to improve their reporting skills.
WeWorld Kenya project coordinator Livingston Nyando said the organisation was working in collaboration with other NGOs and civil society to mitigate conflict and promote peaceful coexistence.
Nyando said that journalists, social media influencers and content creators play an important role in communication, highlighting the need for capacity building on conflict-sensitive reporting to prevent the spread of hate speech and violence.
"We aim to empower young journalists on proper reporting on sensitive issues in ways that can help prevent chaos," he said.
He spoke during a three-day training of the journalist at Safari Beach Hotel in Kwale county.
The journalists were also awarded certificates.
According to Nyando, the training seeks to remind journalists about their social responsibility to cover stories that promote peace and unity.
He said that social media influencers and content creators play an important role in promoting peace because they have a large audience who listens to and trusts their content.
Nyando said that it is critical for content creators to learn solution-based journalism skills in order to avoid posting content that causes conflict.
"Content creators are always the first to break news before mainstream media houses, so we believe it is appropriate for them to be educated on conflict-sensitive reporting."
During the training sessions, both journalists and content creators, were subjected to the media code of ethics, which includes the concepts of objectivity and impartiality, accuracy, integrity and factual reporting, to minimise harm in conflict reporting.
The journalists were also educated on the types of conflicts and methods of conflict resolution.
The project is being implemented along Kenya's coastal strip to capitalise on the rich Swahili culture, which is thought to promote peace, integration and social cohesion.
He said that coastal people are known for welcoming and extending gestures of love and care to visitors and neighbours.
Halima Gongo, a freelance journalist, praised the project, saying it will provide journalists with an edge in conflict writing and reporting.
The training, she said, provides a sense of professionalism when packaging and presenting on conflict-related issues to avoid exacerbating violence.
The knowledge given will help media practitioners mind the choice of words and take a neutral position and dehumanising people or groups.
"We have gained a lot of vital skills in reporting conflict or misunderstandings within our communities to prevent chaos from erupting," she said.
The journalists also received training on legal guidelines on how to obtain critical information for story development and the protection of news sources.
Social media influencer and content creator Rajab Salim said the programme will help media practitioners be peace builders and promote unity and development.
Salim said it is key for content creators to receive appropriate skills in effective writing and reporting of their content through the use emerging technology.
"We must take a sensitive approach to gathering and presenting information in conflict situations," he said.
