Government commits to safety of journalists

Zim Now Writer

A week of training and multi-stakeholder conversations in Harare culminated in government commitments to ensure the safety of journalists and recommendations to strengthen dialogue ahead of the upcoming election period.

20 journalists from four Zimbabwean media houses came together in Harare for training on physical safety, digital security, and psychosocial wellbeing, including discussions on key concerns ahead of reporting the upcoming election process in the country.

For many, this was their first opportunity to take part in a comprehensive safety training course, with a range of new skills acquired and plenty to take back to their newsrooms.

“First aid is not just for health workers because I can now implement it in my home, and even in my community,” said a Star FM journalist. “My key takeaway is the importance of always assessing your surroundings, especially if you’re in a new environment. This is something we tend to overlook as journalists. I will definitely share the information with my bosses and colleagues, especially now as we head into elections.”

Solidarity between professionals on issues concerning safety and protection of journalists is key to raising standards for all across the industry. Given the highly competitive nature of the Zimbabwean media landscape there are few opportunities for journalists from rival organisations to come together – and even fewer subjects they are likely to agree on.

However, by the end of an intense week of training the value of looking out for each other in potentially dangerous reporting environments had been clearly reinforced, while the idea of coming together in support of colleagues – regardless of their affiliations – had taken seed.

Practical exercises related to basic first aid training were in high demand, along with sessions exploring how to construct and put in place robust policies within newsrooms to help manage crisis situations. Participants also embraced sessions tackling mental health and wellbeing, issues that for many journalists have been absent from the safety discussion.

“The psychological aspect was key because most journalists often fail to handle this,” said a reporter from the Sunday Mail. “Just last year, we lost a colleague to suicide after he had for some time battled trauma and depression.”

As part of WAN-IFRA’s long-term engagement with partners in Zimbabwe, notably through its sector-leading Women in News programme, further training is scheduled in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists that will tackle election reporting techniques and professional practice. The focus on safety will also continue, with ongoing support available to partner newsrooms during the course of 2023.

“’The training was long overdue! I now understand safety preparedness and the necessary steps to take when faced with a situation,” said a senior manager from Alpha Media Holdings. “I’ve also become aware of the need to provide adequate resources to my team when they will be going out to potential conflict zones.” – WAN-IFRA