UNESCO in Partnership with who supported Training of Journalist in the context of COVID-19 outbreak

New Delhi: In response to COVID-19 outbreak and to reinforce in country Communication and Information on the pandemic, UNESCO in collaboration with the UNESCO NATCOM and the World Health Organization (WHO) provided support to train 19 journalists, under the leadership of government Information Cabinet (GABINFO) and in partnership with the National Institute of Health (INS), the National Journalist Union (SNJ) and the Institute of Social Communication of Southern Africa (MISA). The event took place on 14 May 2020 at INS, in Marracuene district, Maputo Province. It focused on awareness and protection of journalists and media professionals to keep freedom of expression within the context of COVID-19. Following the training, the trainees are better informed and equipped to protect themselves and their family members and friends, to exercise their work and to promote basic protection approach during their work. These practices being valid for cholera and malaria, it is also expected that journalists contribute to a larger health awareness raising campaign throughout Mozambique. As next steps, the training will be extended to the other 9 provinces of the country and to the community radios that will thereafter be responsible for extending the campaign in the country. The training materials distributed will also be available to all to dissemination.

Finally, this support to journalists’ education and protection will contribute to promoting quality reporting and fighting against disinformation and misinformation with regard to COVID-19. This improvement of professional journalistic standards is essential to bring out the potential of media systems to foster democracy, dialogue and sustainable development.