Farmers/Herders Clash: Journalists task to put on victim’s lens

The incessant clash between farmers and herders has gained the attention of a non-governmental organisation, besieging Journalists to report more objectively both sides of the issue in other to stop escalating tension.

Speaking at a two day workshop in Jos, the Plateau State capital, one among the facilitators, Ms Ema Miroslava Billings said “newsmen should put the lens of a victim: meaning, ‘to put ourselves in the shoes of those being reported’, as that is the only way Journalists can report a balance story”, she said.

With the topic, ‘Do No Harm And Peace Journalism’, Billings admonished newsmen to dig up the issues that leads to every conflict.

“Do no harm is a fundamental element that relies on journalists reporting with integrity by reporting the truth.

“your reportage should heal wounds and not escalate them: inform the public on what led to the conflict and get all sides of the story.

“This is very important because the society is expose to the media, whether it is via newspapers, social apps on smartphones or television.

“The information people receive affects them: it can alter their perception and give them a false sense of reality, and news providers are held to ethical standards they must comply with.

“There must be accuracy and truthfulness within the reports of which without honesty, news stories are no different from entertainment and it is the responsibility and duty of news stations and their journalists to provide their audiences with authentic information as it is the right of the public to be correctly informed on the state of their surroundings”, she said.

Ms Billings who is a Senior Trainer at Search for Common Ground Nigeria, facilitators of the workshop, also said the lingering crisis between herders and farmers can be overcome if the media stop altering information which leads to lying about the fact.

On his part, the Senior Program Manager Nigeria, Search For Common Ground, Mr Sani Suleiman, said the farmer/herder conflict is threatening the corporate existence of the country which is also hampering on the economic development, food security and destroying communal relationships, leading to serious security challenges in the country, hence the need to engage newsmen on reportage that will help douse the tension, he said.

Our correspondent however reports that the workshop was packaged by Search For Common Ground in partnership with USAID.

Kingsley Chukwuka Jos