Congo/ Media: women journalists equipped for inclusive and peaceful election coverage
Concluded on August 13 in Brazzaville, the training workshop initiated by the Ministry of Communication and Unesco on the coverage of electoral processes from a peace, human rights and gender perspective enabled participants to formulate ambitious recommendations and identify the pitfalls to be avoided in the run-up to the 2026 presidential election.
On the eve of the 2026 presidential election in the Republic of Congo, the role of the media, and particularly of women journalists, is crucial in guaranteeing balanced, inclusive information that promotes national cohesion. For three days, women journalists from the print, audiovisual and online media benefited from capacity-building based on theoretical modules, case studies and practical workshops.
At the end of the workshop, participants proposed the creation of a network of women journalists as a tool for monitoring and mutual support, as well as the practical application of gender- and peace-sensitive reporting techniques. They also encourage the proposal of inclusive topics to editorial departments and the promotion of women to decision-making positions. " The media are invited to adopt gender equality policies, encourage ongoing training and involve trained journalists in election coverage. The partners, for their part, are called upon to perpetuate the initiative, support the network and finalize a practical guide on election coverage ", stipulate the recommendations issued by the journalists who took part in this time of exchange.
These recommendations aim for more ethical, diversified and balanced media coverage, capable of deconstructing polarizing discourse and contributing to social peace. As Serge Banyimbe, trainer and acting head of the communication and information sector at Unesco, pointed out, " We'll say we've achieved our objective when the regulatory bodies see a marked improvement on previous years ". As a trainer at the meeting, he warned participants against two major risks: unfiltered relay of political actors' communication, and neglect of fact-checking. " Everyone wants to communicate, and not everyone wants to inform ", he stressed, urging journalists to filter content, prioritize the citizen's interest and exercise critical self-regulation, particularly in the face of content originating from social networks or artificial intelligence.
For Tania Noguera Ndinga, journalist at Vox TV, this training is a valuable first experience. " We are working for the benefit of the people to guarantee peace in our country... We need to balance things out to ensure a fair electoral process ", she confided.
Closing the ceremony, Antoine Oviebo Ethaï, Director of Cabinet for the Minister of Communication and Media, hailed the initiative as "timely". and recalled that " women journalists, through their vision, sensitivity and professionalism, have a crucial role to play in the consolidation of democracy ". He encouraged participants to put the workshop's achievements into practice, and to uphold the values of truth, ethics, peace and dialogue.
The revision of the electoral rolls for the March 2026 presidential election will run from September1 to October 30.
Source: www.adiac-congo.com
