2024 NAWOJ Training: No Story Is Worth Dying For– Salami
By Olusegun HOSEA, 29th September, 2024.
It was an expository engagement at the three days training programme on Gender Equity and Safety cum Gender Sensitive Reporting for women Journalists, when Rafatu Salami , a renowned Female Journalist disclosed to the participants that no story is worth dying for. According to her, a Reporter should tell a story the way it is, why at the same time be mindful of his or her safety while reporting. She said tell the story , do not be the story. She advised Journalist to believe in their fellow Journalist for accuracy of information than relying on the external information most of the time. The programme which was held on the 24th-25th September, 2024, at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure was supported by the NORWEGIAN Union of Journalists. The programme addresses the Gender issues, Equity and Safety as well as some of the Journalists rights like freedom of expression and host of others were made known to the participants.
While, speaking, Salami explained that the universal Declaration of Human Rights -Article 19 spelt out the rights of Journalists and that every practicing Journalist should endeavor to read and memorized the words for their defence while performing their duties. According to her as quoted from the Article 19 UNDHR, ” Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek receive and impact information and ideas through any Media and regardless of frontiers”
She also quoted from page 22, chapter 4 of the Nigeria Constitution of the Federal Republic, under the Human Rights and Press Freedom, article 39.1 and 2. That ” the Press, radio, Television and other agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people” . Some of these Rights as listed included right to equal pay for equal work. Right to work based provisions e.g toilets, childcare facilities, night duty services.Other include equal access to training as well as right to work-life balance.
In another development, Rafatu identified some of the threats to most of the rights that are supposed to be enjoying by the Journalists to include murder, torture , attacks and kidnapping of Journalists, arbitrary arrest , detention without trial draconian laws. Other threats are searching media agencies without warrants, confiscation of equipment of journalist, death threats and harassment and sexual harassment, sexual assault and intimidation and host of others.
Veronica Okoye speaking
From the angle of Veronica Okoye, she took time explaining to the participants some of the Gender issues facing them at work place and on the field work. According to her, issue like sexual harassment and prevention of female Reporter from covering some beats due to the cultural barriers and other relatives factors were also tackled in her cause of explanation.
Journalists were told that some of the reasons why the female Gender were dying some positions in their working place even though they know that they qualified for it was that , they may not be able to hang out with their male counterpart in the old night due to the vital motherly roles women play in keeping their family united.
She also gave some safety tips to the participants while Reporting that their safety is very important during the field . Explaining, Journalist should avoid violence crowds and wore some smart kits and dress that might allowed them to run for their life in case of any emergency while covering political stories or protests.
Filani Taiwo – Red Cross officer
In the same vein, the programme also exposed participants to some basics knowledge of the skills of how to apply first Aid treatment to some minor challenges facing them while on duty as put together by the experienced Red Crosser trainer Filani Taiwo.
Practical demonstration
While defining first Aid as the first assistant given to a casualty before the arrival of medical Doctor, made us to understood that Red Cross doesn’t give or administer drugs to their casualty as this is against the ethnic of the profession. Taiwo said the main purpose of first Aid was to safe life, promote quick recovery and prevent the condition of the casualty from worsening.
He explained the three things majorly done by the first Aid, which includes Diagnosis, treatment and Disposal. A practical demonstration was carried out for the treatment of fainting casualty which includes Raising the legs of the victims up and bring down the head to allowed blood to flowed while using an ‘ Acronym DR ABC for the treatment- which means Danger to yourself, Response, Seek for help, Air way, Breathing, cardio pulmonary resulcitation-CPR.All these needs to be observed first by a Red Cross officer before attempting to safe life. He concluded that most at times the causes of fainting was the shortage of oxygenated supply to the brain is what is causing fainting. Other causes according to Filani Taiwo are Hunger, stress and standing for tool long in an occasion.
L- Adeola Adekunle -NAWOJ NATIONAL Officers “B zone “
In her remarks, the National Vice Chairperson of NAWOJ, “B zone” Ademola Adekunle of Adaba 88.9.Fm expresses her satisfaction to the competent of the resources person. According to her, she said the nation of the NAWOJ is very happy for organizing this type of training for their members as it would help them fortified them during the cause of their duties. She thanked them for the good job well done.
L- NAWOJ Chairperson Tola Gbadamosi and SSA To the Gov. Ewatomilola Owoeye-
In her response, the Chairperson of National Association of Women Journalists- NAWOJ, Ondo State Chapter -Tola Gbadamosi expressed her gratitude to the Resources person for taking their time in handling the training. She also thanked them for choosing the old state chapter of NAWOJ as one of the beneficiaries of the program.
Highlights of the programme include group works, presentations of the assignment, practical demonstration on how to safe life of any casualty who fainted by the Red Cross officer and group photograh taking after the events.
Present at the event were Vice Chairman of the NUJ, Akeem Gbadamosi, Ewatomilola Owoeye- Senior Special Assistants -SSA to the Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on Research and Documentation, , SA to the Governor on Photography and host of others.
