Media Practitioners Urged to Adopt Peace Journalism in Communal Crisis Reportage

Media practitioners in Osun State have been charged to adopt conflict-sensitive reporting and promote peace-driven narratives in covering communal crises, especially in flashpoint communities across the state.

The charge was given on Thursday in Osogbo during a one-day media and peacebuilding workshop organised under the Preach for Peace Initiative. The workshop was designed to equip journalists with skills for responsible and solution-oriented reporting during conflicts.

In his welcome address, Team Lead of the Peace Building Initiative, Opeyemi Oladimeji, underscored the critical role of the media in sustaining peace, particularly in conflict-prone areas. He urged participants to be deliberate, balanced, and professional in their reportage.

“We want all participants to be more sensitive in reporting conflicts across the state and beyond,” Oladimeji said. “Careless or sensational reporting can escalate tensions rather than promote understanding.”

Lead facilitator, Rasheed Adebiyi, said the training focused on improving reportage of protracted communal clashes, particularly those involving Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin-Osun communities.

“Our analysis shows these crises have lingered for years. The question is when they will be resolved if we continue to report only violence without exploring solutions,” Adebiyi stated.

He urged journalists to embrace solution journalism by highlighting peacebuilding efforts within affected communities, rather than limiting coverage to episodic violence.

“Journalists should not only report when violence breaks out; they should also examine initiatives that can ensure lasting peace,” he added.

Also speaking, Ridwan Kolawole of the University of Ibadan described the media as a critical partner in peacebuilding, cautioning against sensationalism, ethnic profiling, and inflammatory reporting.

“What we say in the media shapes public opinion, and it can either promote peace or fuel conflict. Global examples have shown how media narratives can worsen crises if not handled responsibly,” Kolawole warned.

Executive Director of PEACAD Network, Akinremi Olawale, said the workshop aimed to reshape media narratives toward reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, especially in Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin-Osun.

“Media practitioners are the voices that shape perspectives. We want them to streamline their reports in ways that encourage peaceful engagement,” Olawale said.

He noted that the initiative, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, had earlier engaged youths and community stakeholders as part of broader efforts to resolve recurring conflicts.

“We have seen that the communities want peace, but what is lacking is a structured process to achieve it. The media have a role to play in championing that process,” he added.

Providing context to the crisis, media expert Jare Tiamiyu said some media houses in Osogbo had allowed one-sided interviews, sponsored news items, fake news, and broadcast unverified reports in the days leading to the crisis.

He urged journalists and media organisations to take greater responsibility in managing information shared with the public and to be mindful of how they engage with sources.

“We must put an end to sponsoring people to spread fake news or give misleading reports about incidents. Research shows the crisis started with the media and was escalated in the media for weeks before it degenerated into what it is today,” Tiamiyu said. He stressed that verified and accurate information is key to preventing further conflict.

A member of the initiative, Koyum Hussain Adekunle, said the programme was inspired by recent communal clashes and the need for sustainable peace.

“Peace is life. Without peace, there can be no development. This initiative is about creating lasting harmony in our communities,” Adekunle said.

Participants described the training as insightful and impactful. Editor of Voice Air Media, Bright Olorungbotemi, said journalists must move beyond reporting breaking news that escalates crises and focus on balanced, solution-driven coverage.

Publisher of Harbinger Online Media, Boluwatife Adedokun, said the training had reshaped her understanding of conflict reporting.

“I’ve learned that my reports should calm tensions, not inflame them. The choice of words matters a lot,” Adedokun said.

The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by the Preach for Peace Initiative to foster dialogue, strengthen community engagement, and promote sustainable peace across Osun State.