Center sensitises journalists on effective reportage on violence against women, girls
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Center for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN), has sensitised journalists on the need to embrace ethical practices in the reportage on issues related to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), to prevent further stigmatization on the survivors.
CEWHIN who made the call during a media hangout with a focus on the lecture topic: “Ethical Media Reporting on Prevention of (and Response to) Violence Against Women and Girls: Balancing Truth, Sensitivity, and Impact.”
Special Adviser to the Osun Governor on Public Communication, Sola Ajala, in his address as the guest speaker, noted that the media plays a crucial role in shaping society’s understanding of critical issues, such as gender-based violence.
According to Ajala, “When reporting on violence against women and girls, media professionals must walk a delicate line. On one hand, they are tasked with uncovering truth, exposing injustice, and amplifying the voices of survivors. On the other, they must ensure that their reporting does not re-traumatize victims, reinforce harmful stereotypes, or contribute to societal desensitization. Thus, the ethical reporting of VAWG demands a careful balance of truth, sensitivity, and impact.
“Media is not a passive mirror- it actively constructs social reality. The language used, the images selected, the sources quoted, and even what is left unreported–all shape public attitudes and policy responses. When handled ethically, media can: raise awareness about the prevalence and causes of VAWG, challenge societal norms that tolerate or trivialize violence, highlight the structural and systemic failures that perpetuate abuse, promote services and resources available to survivors as well as inspire collective action and policy reform.
“Truth in journalism is not just about stating facts, it requires accuracy, context, and a deliberate dismantling of myths. Journalists should avoid sensationalism, protect survivors’ identities, obtain informed consent, and ensure their language is respectful.”
CEWHIN Executive Director Atinuke Odukoya emphasized the media’s role as a powerful agenda-setter and mindset shaper, calling on journalists to use their platforms to build a culture where violence is neither normalized nor tolerated.
She said, “the media is a stakeholder in this fight. You may not see yourself as a community leader, but your audience, whether online, on radio, or in print looks to you to shape their understanding and response to gender-based violence.
“We must get to a place where communities say, ‘We don’t do this here.’ That is the vision for Osun, a State that will say no to all forms of violence against women and girls”.
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