The Albino Foundation (TAF) on Tuesday in Abuja organized a one-day training for media houses on disability inclusion and the Discrimination against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
The workshop which is supported European Union for advance the understanding of disability inclusion by media houses.
Mr. Jake Epelle, founder and CEO of The Albino Foundation (TAF) in his opening remark appreciated the media houses present.
He said that the training is for the media houses to consolidate the ideas on how best to get their organization to report disability issues and how media and journalists should be able to report issues concerning persons with disabilities in an appropriate manner, advancing the need for disability inclusive reportage.
He also said that the training will give them the opportunity to rob mind together in convincing their editors or editors in chief to promote stories about persons with disabilities, because persons with disabilities are not being reported the way they should, rather persons with disabilities have been discriminated upon in media reportage.
Speaking further, he said that the reporters should give effective and inclusive report on issues of disability and also form a bond with TAF in reporting activities on disability issues.
The Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalist FCT, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, in his goodwill message appreciated the participants and also thanked TAF for organizing a training of this nature for media houses. It will assist media houses to understand the plight of persons with disabilities in the society, and how well they can implement the Act in their various organizations to ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard and also ensure that PWDs are being carried along in their media space. Â
It was stated that the training objective is for media houses to have knowledge of the Discrimination against Persons With disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, have knowledge of the right terminologies in disability concept and finally, sensitization of media houses on disability inclusive reportage.
The training was classified into different sessions: the first session was data reporting for disability inclusive journalism which was facilitated by Etido Ekwere, the second session was creative programming for disability inclusion in media broadcasting by Mr. Jake Epelle, the third session was media practice through the lenses of disability inclusion by Mr. Razak Adekoya, and finally the last session was disability inclusive media: reportage, editorials, creative messaging and storytelling by Dr. Tope Ojeme.
The workshop was very interactive which provide opportunity for participants to ask questions on what they have been confused about in reporting disability issues.
TQM reports that the participants unanimously agreed to work with TAF and also become part of a group of journalists reporting disability known as Journalist for Disability Inclusion which is being organized by TAF.
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