By Grace Q. Bryant
The Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) with support from the Norwegian Union of Journalists (NORSK) is conducting a two-day training for journalists on Gender Equality and Physical Safety in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
The Training which is from April 15-16, 2021 brought together about 20 journalists from Margibi, Monsterrado and Grand Bassa Counties.
During the opening ceremony, the president of the Female Journalists Association, Siatta Scott- Johnson added that journalism is a risky profession as their lives are always in danger.
According to Madam Scott-Johnson, the training is intended to help participants to improve practical knowledge on safety and how to protect themselves especially female journalists.
“Sometimes the society, public or ourselves apparently unknowingly put our lives in danger because we are journalists and are therefore target reporters for no reason,” Madam Johnson explained.
She emphasized that sometimes the public feels that journalists are spies and secret agents while journalists want to be able to do their work freely.
“We just thought we needed to do this training as soon as possible so that Journalists can know why world Press Freedom Day is important to us as journalists,” she intimated.
According to Madam Johnson, in 2017 the Norwegian Union of Journalists had similar training on protecting journalists while covering the general elections.
She continued that the aim of the training is for journalists to have knowledge and skills to be able to keep themselves safe while on their regular reportorial duties.