IMS Workshop in Kenya on Conflict Sensitive Journalism. Photo: Anne Poulsen/IMS

IMS launches special Kenya Edition of handbook on conflict sensitive journalism at East Africa Editors' Forum in Nairobi on World Press Day

Nairobi, 2-3 May, 2008 - The outbreak of the widespread violence following the elections in Kenya in December 2008, put many Kenyan journalists in the situation of having to report for the first time in their lives on a conflict of the magnitude that was witnessed in Kenya in the weeks after the election.

The experience uncovered an imminent need for promoting the concept of conflict sensitive journalism among Kenyan journalists.

Against this background, International Media Support today launches a Special Edition Kenya of its conflict sensitive journalism handbook at the East Africa Editors' Forum in Nairobi on the occasion of of World Press Day, May 3, 2008. The event will be attended by Kenya's Minister for Information and Communication, Mr. Samuel Poghisio, who will address the audience in his opening speech.

The handbook is published in close cooperation with IMS' Kenya partner organisations: Kenya Editors' Guild, Media Council of Kenya, The Kenya Association of Photographers, Illustrators and Designers, Kenya Correspondents Association and Kenya Union of Journalists.

Peter Mwaura, a former director at the School of journalism, University of Nairobi, and former editor-in-chief of the Nation is responsible for writing the Kenyan sections of the handbook. The Special Edition Kenya builds upon the important work of Ross Howard and his handbook in conflict sensitive journalism, first published by IMS in 2003.

Media plays critical role in conflict

In conflict situations, whether in Kenya or anywhere else in the world, the role of the media is critical in providing the public with full, reliable and non-partisan information to manage the conflict and make intelligent decisions. Conflict sensitive journalism empowers reporters to report on conflicts professionally without feeding the flames. It enables journalists to report on conflicts in depth, to cover all sides and ventilate issues related to the conflict.

The approaches and methods of conflict sensitive journalism, in contrast to traditional journalism, would have empowered the Kenyan media to inform the public more comprehensively, objectively and accurately.

This handbook is designed to be a practical everyday guide, which seeks to contribute to the theoretical refinement and practical realization of conflict sensitive journalism as a tool for usage by Kenyan media practitioners covering conflicts.

IMS supports media in Kenya

The conflict sensitive journalism handbook - Special Edition Kenya - is part of IMS' strategy to support media in Kenya. Since January 2008, the strategy has lead to rapid interventions including safety training of 60 Kenyan media practitioners in three locations across the country, a workshop in conflict sensitive journalism for 25 reporters in Nairobi, post-election trauma counselling for 150 journalists and photographers in five different locations in Kenya as well as a round table, in which some 40 key media stakeholders in Kenya gathered to assessed the challenges and priorites for a more longer-term support strategy for media in Kenya.

The activities have been carried out in close cooperation with the Kenyan media institutions who also backed the production of this handbook, as well as international media organisations such as Article 19, International Federation of Journalists, International News Safety Institute and Journalists Without Borders. World Association of Newspapers and International Press Institute also provided important support to the activities.

For further information regarding the handbook, please contact IMS:

In Nairobi; Anne Poulsen, consultant, +254 737 814 215, email: apo[snabela]i-m-s.dk

In Copenhagen, Lotte Dahlmann, communications coordinator, +45 2554 3541, email ld[snabela]i-m-s.dk

In Mozambique: Jesper Højberg, executive director of IMS, +45 2531 0015, email: jh[snabela]i-m-s.dk