By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – Journalists and bloggers from across the South-West Region have been urged to place civilians at the heart of their reporting when covering armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop in Buea.
The training, held from July 1 to 2 at the Parliamentarian Flats Hotel, equipped media professionals with practical knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), ethical reporting standards and the role of journalists in conflict situations.
Organised by the ICRC, the workshop focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the mandate of the ICRC, and the responsibilities of journalists reporting on humanitarian issues with accuracy, neutrality and professionalism.
Speaking after the workshop, ICRC Communication Officer Nora Atah said the initiative was motivated by the realities of the decade-long conflict in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions, where journalists have often found themselves caught between opposing sides.
“The conflict has been raging in the South-West for the past 10 years or so, and during this time journalists have been victims of it either through their reporting or from what they report, knowingly or unknowingly,” she said.
She noted that the ICRC, as the custodian of International Humanitarian Law, considered it necessary to bring journalists together to discuss the legal and ethical responsibilities that accompany reporting in conflict environments.
“We wanted to put journalists under the same canopy and around the same table to discuss what it means to work in a conflict setting, how journalists should behave and respond to crises through their microphones, cameras and pens,” Atah explained.
She acknowledged that one of the greatest challenges journalists face in conflict reporting is maintaining neutrality while under pressure from competing narratives. “Neutrality comes into question, impartiality is tested, and independence as a journalist faces trial during conflict. How do you report without taking sides? How do you report without being biased? These are some of the issues this workshop seeks to address,” she said.
According to Atah, journalists, much like humanitarian workers, must remain impartial, neutral and independent in carrying out their duties. “The key message we want participants to take home is that when they are reporting, they should put civilians at the centre of their reporting,” she said.
“What you report—will it make or mar someone’s life? Will it implicate somebody? Will it hurt the person you are reporting about or the community you are covering? These are the questions journalists must constantly ask themselves.”
Beyond the classroom sessions, Atah revealed that the ICRC intends to maintain regular engagement with participants to reinforce the lessons learned during the workshop. “We have created a community of practice where journalists can share knowledge, analyse reports and learn collectively. It’s a win-win situation. The ICRC benefits from better-informed reporting, while journalists continue building their professional capacity,” she said.
Participants Gain New Understanding of Humanitarian Law
Participants described the workshop as timely and highly relevant, saying it had deepened their understanding of International Humanitarian Law and strengthened their ability to report responsibly on humanitarian issues.
Ojong Rahel, a journalist from the Tiko Council Community Radio, said the workshop significantly enhanced her understanding of the legal frameworks governing conflict reporting.
According to Rahel, one of the biggest takeaways from the workshop was understanding the distinction between International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL), two concepts that are often confused.
“I’ve picked up several tenets during this conference, such as understanding the fundamentals of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, and now I can confidently distinguish between the two norms,” she explained.
“I have also learned the key preventive measures I can take while reporting during an armed conflict. These are lessons that will not only improve my work but also help protect my life while on assignment,” Rahel said.
For Innocent Yuh, a journalist based in Kumba, the workshop marked a shift from conventional reporting to what he described as humanitarian journalism. Having reported for years from one of the country’s conflict-affected areas, he said the realities on the ground require journalists to adopt approaches that prioritise the protection of lives.
“I think this is a very important moment for journalists, especially those of us who have lived for a very long time in a crisis area,” Yuh said. “It’s not normal to continue reporting exactly the way we were trained in school. This time around, we are taking the path of humanitarian journalism.”
Yuh said the ICRC training also highlighted practical strategies for ensuring journalists’ safety while working in volatile environments. According to him, understanding security measures is just as important as mastering reporting techniques.
“With the ICRC coming in to give us this training, it makes a lot of sense because it doesn’t only shield us from some of the very harsh reporting situations and confrontations we’ve had on the field, but it also helps us find escape routes to stay safe,” he said. “At the end of the day, as a journalist, if you’re not safe, you can’t even tell the story.”
