Scores of journalists from Rwanda on Wednesday undertook training aimed at building their capacity of science journalism coverage in great depth and insight.
The two-day meeting organized by Science Africa based in Kenya sought to build the capacity of journalists to better understand reporting on complex scientific and health related issues that are rapidly emerging in societies as well as finding solutions.
Among the issues that the journalists were trained on include improved gathering and dissemination of science information including research results that can help save lives, reduce poverty and improve people’s quality of life.
A number of journalists were engaged on how to tell scientific stories, how people or communities try to solve widely shared problems as well as complementing and strengthening coverage of problems.
Additionally, the training was aimed at increasing the capacity of journalists when it comes to effectiveness when presenting available evidence of results.
Various reports indicate that journalists miss out on the core key issues when covering or reporting scientific related stories.
Addressing the meeting via zoom on Wednesday, one of the panelists Daniel Otunge, the Deputy Executive Director of Science Africa based in Kenya, underscored the need for journalists to engage the four pillar of Solution Journalism which are response, insight, evidence of results and limitations.
He explained, “A Sojo story should investigate and explain how people try to solve widely shared problems.”
He noted that Solution Journalism complements and strengthens coverage of problems adding that stories should explain the shortcomings accurately, by placing them in meaningful context.”
Andrew Gakwaya, the Director of Rwanda News Agency who participated in the training said that his expectations of the training was to improve how to better everyday stories in a fast changing world.
More than 22 journalists participated in the two days training held via zoom.
