(BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia Press Union (GPU), in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), held a three-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop on migration reporting from May 28–30 in The Gambia. The workshop, part of the Information, Training, and Migration Project in West Africa (INFORMA), brought together 11 senior journalists from various media outlets, including radio, television, newspapers, and online platforms.

The TOT is part of a series of training programs taking place in three West African countries, namely, Senegal, Niger, and The Gambia. The objective is to strengthen and improve the quality of information on migration and mobility, including the risks associated with irregular migration and the alternatives available. The program also aims to provide nuanced and trustworthy information to the public.

Throughout the training, discussions, and hands-on training sessions, the journalists learned how to effectively report on migration issues, human rights violations, and government policies related to migration.

They also shared and gained insights into the complexities of migration, such as the root causes and impact on communities. By equipping these journalists with the necessary skills and knowledge, the INFORMA project hopes to empower them to produce accurate and balanced reporting that promotes a better understanding of migration issues among the public. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute to a more informed and educated society that can make well-informed decisions about migration and mobility.

Funded by the European Union, the project is part of a consortium led by the Italian organization COPSE and includes other organizations such as Open Arms, Carta di Roma, GRDR, SEEFAR, and the IFJ.

Pa Louis Thomasi, Director of the IFJ Africa Office, emphasized the project’s goal of enhancing the quality of information on migration, human mobility, and related socio-economic dynamics in the three countries. “A key component of this project is to develop the skills of at least 30 journalists in The Gambia, Niger, and Senegal through a TOT focused on improving information on migration. The journalists who attended the TOT will be expected to train other journalists at the local level on how to report effectively on migration and conduct sensitization campaigns.”

Modou Joof, Secretary General of the GPU, welcomed the TOT as a valuable opportunity for Gambian journalists. “The Gambia, like other countries in the West African sub-region, needs to do a lot in terms of raising awareness about irregular migration, which affects the lives and livelihoods of numerous families,” he stated. “There is also a need to present alternatives to irregular migration locally and opportunities for safe migration. It is hoped that the journalists participating in this TOT will gain the required knowledge and skills to train more journalists in rural Gambia.”

The three-day TOT, led by media consultant Olivier Piot, covered essential topics in migration reporting, including media ethics, strategies for analyzing migration data, pitching news stories on migration, information management, public interest, independent journalism, migration risks and alternatives, and the role of the media in reporting migration.

The initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the quality of migration reporting in West Africa, ultimately aiming to inform and educate the public on safe migration practices and the realities of human mobility.