Crises and conflicts – a topic all journalists should learn to cover since they inevitably encounter them in their work at some point.
Media Unlimited conducted a five-day workshop grouping reporters and editors from Kuwait and Oman on how to write about prickly issues such as sectarian strife; economic, political and social crises; and, unexpected events.
Participants from the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Oman News Agency (ONA) learned from case studies, viewed videos of unfolding crises, and wrote news and features on related topics.
KUNA business reporter Suleiman Rida writes on Kuwaiti finance minister’s resignation
They also acquired skills on the importance of integrating social media in their stories and using them as sources of information.
KUNA journalists watch video on covering demonstrations
Other topics included the need for online research, reliance on archives, establishing an extensive network of good sources and learning how to deal with them in a crisis.
ONA’s Taleb Al Riyami and Abdallah Alhajri tackle the link between poor education and unemployment in the Gulf
Equally important was focusing on how to operate in a hostile environment, accidents and shocks that adversely affect journalists, and coverage of traumatized victims of conflicts.
Media Unlimited director Magda Abu-Fadil flanked by trainees in Kuwait
The participants also learned about proper coordination between editors and field reporters, newsroom dynamics, ethics while on crisis assignments, and how best to write and edit content for different multimedia platforms.
The workshop May 26-31, 2012 was held at the headquarters of the Kuwait News Agency.
