Bantarizatips media on conflict coverage
May 11, 2004
ARMY spokesperson Maj. Shaban Bantariza on Friday advised journalists to be objective when reporting about conflict to avoid misrepresentation of facts.
By Catherine Ntabadde
ARMY spokesperson Maj. Shaban Bantariza on Friday advised journalists to be objective when reporting about conflict to avoid misrepresentation of facts.
Bantariza was discussing a topic, “Reporting Conflict: Challenges and tips for journalistsâ€, at a Media and Peace public lecture at the Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University in Kampala.
He said false communication led to misunderstanding of messages, which results into wrong actions.
Bantariza said, “Be competent in communication to avoid disagreements, wrong actions or death. We have had problems with journalists.â€
The lecture was organised by the Department of Mass Communication, Makerere University and MS Uganda.
Bantariza, however, said some government officials who declined to release information to journalists contributed to misrepresentation of facts.
He appealed to media houses to train reporters in specialised security reporting so that they understand the language to use in conflict.
Emmy Allio, a senior reporter at The New Vision, who was the main presenter, called upon journalists to be objective but warned them against disseminating information that undermined security.
“The media are representatives of the public. They must inform the people without compromising security,†he said.
Ends
ARMY spokesperson Maj. Shaban Bantariza on Friday advised journalists to be objective when reporting about conflict to avoid misrepresentation of facts.
Bantariza was discussing a topic, “Reporting Conflict: Challenges and tips for journalistsâ€, at a Media and Peace public lecture at the Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University in Kampala.
He said false communication led to misunderstanding of messages, which results into wrong actions.
Bantariza said, “Be competent in communication to avoid disagreements, wrong actions or death. We have had problems with journalists.â€
The lecture was organised by the Department of Mass Communication, Makerere University and MS Uganda.
Bantariza, however, said some government officials who declined to release information to journalists contributed to misrepresentation of facts.
He appealed to media houses to train reporters in specialised security reporting so that they understand the language to use in conflict.
Emmy Allio, a senior reporter at The New Vision, who was the main presenter, called upon journalists to be objective but warned them against disseminating information that undermined security.
“The media are representatives of the public. They must inform the people without compromising security,†he said.
Ends