The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) with support from UNESCO held a two day training in Kakata, Margibi County that brought together twenty-five Journalists from five Counties - Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Bong and Montserrado. The training was held under the theme Conflict Sensitive Journalism and Social Media.

Making remarks at the start of the two day workshop was the President of PUL, Mr. Charles B. Coffey, Jr.  who admonished journalists to take advantage of the training. He said the training will provide ideas to them in promoting journalists safety by working with politicians and political parties for peaceful elections and the guarantee of their own safety. President Coffey also said the training will provide quality reporting to avoid confrontation with political institutions during this electoral process.

“Based on this, UNSECO thought it wise to collaborate with the Press Union of Liberia to embark on the training to educate Journalists how to be ethical in the discharge of their professional duties,” he said.  

The event was held at the Kakata youth Center in Margibi County as part of the ongoing project, STRENGTHENING CONFLICT SENSITIVITY IN JOURNALSM AND SOCIAL MEDIA TOWARDS SUPPORTING PEACFUL ELECTIONS IN LIBERIA. The project is a part of UNESCO’S International Programme for the Development of Communications (IPDC) and will support the Liberian media and social actors by training and capacity building that will enhance cordial professional relations with politicians or political parties.

The project will also promote journalists’ safety by working with politicians to discourage crimes against journalists, especially in the build up to the October 2017 elections. The UNESCO funded initiative will guarantee quality reportage of the 2017 electoral cycle, considering the needs and concerns of all by promoting safety for journalists and others in the media space.