A journalist highlights how there is need for training on GBV reporting

25 September 2024, 4:45 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

Peace Basemera, a journalist with UBC West Radio, has hailed a recent training on reporting Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as a game-changer.

Organized by Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) with support from Austrian Development Cooperation, the training enlightened Basemera on the societal roots of GBV and the importance of nuanced reporting.

“I didn’t know society was the root cause of GBV,” Basemera admitted. “Now, I understand that our upbringing and societal norms perpetuate violence against women.”

The training had a profound impact on Basemera’s approach to reporting. “Before, I relied on police reports and authority figures,” she explained. “Now, I engage with survivors, victims, and community members to craft comprehensive stories.”

Basemera highlighted key takeaways from the training, including obtaining consent from survivors before publishing their stories, balancing stories to avoid bias, and seeking diverse perspectives.

Basemera concluded, “This training has transformed my reporting. I’m now equipped to tell stories that spark meaningful conversations and contribute to ending GBV.”