In June 2020, UNESCO through the IPDC framework partnered with AWiM to embark on a group of activities involving training, development of an online training platform and research. This group of 200 Eastern African women journalists were connected through an online resource hub addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and providing online training materials on how to cover the outbreak. The hub also included a database with reference media content and links to good practices on reporting sanitary emergencies in the world.
#RCCE2020 benefits 200 female journalists in Eastern Africa through media associations in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan through three key focal areas:
- The development of six courses on health and risk communication skills, and community engagement. These will be complemented by live mentoring by trainers through webinars;
- Research into the lived experiences of East African women journalists covering COVID-19
- Wikimedia training to profile East African women journalists specialised in health reporting
This project is in line with AWiM’s priorities and goals, SDG5, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, Aspirations 3, 4 & 6. The courses developed by professionals in the field include:
- Balanced health reporting
- Accessing, interpreting and fact-checking scientific information
- Ethical health reporting
- Safety for journalists (offline and online)
- Identifying gendered angles and impact stories
- Automated journalism
All taken by professional trainers and conducted online through video chats and interactions with the courses on the AwiMLearning Platform. Follow #RCCE here for more stories on the training and research.
UNESCO supported this activity within the framework of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). IPDC is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) programme aimed at strengthening the development of mass media in developing countries.
The project also aimed to support African women journalists in their work and was commissioned research on capturing the lived experiences of East African women journalists during COVID-19. Read this report here
Follow #RCCE for all the details on trainers, courses, trainees testimonials and so much more from this project.
