KABUL - UNAMA Strategic Communication and Spokespersons Unit has conducted a series of radio journalism training late this year in different regions of Afghanistan, with the last one in western Herat province this week, to help young journalists build their capacity in radio news presentation.

The three-day training in Herat, which concluded on 3 December, saw active participation of 61 journalists from different media organizations and students of journalism faculty of Herat University. Altogether 18 of them were women.

Similar training was conducted in the northeastern province of Kunduz last month, and there is a plan to roll it over to other provinces. In each region, the training was conducted for three days that covered subjects such as role of journalists in democratic society, code of ethics, finding a story idea, interview skills, writing feature story and straight news.

The training in Herat was held in partnership with Journalists’ House that provided the venue and refreshment.

“I gained a lot of benefits by participating in this training,” said Fatema Musavi, a journalist of Ava Press who is also a law student at Herat University. “I didn’t know much of the subjects before, and I will implement them into practice”.

Andrew MacGregor, the Head of UNAMA Office in Herat, said during his inaugural speech of the training that the mandate of UNAMA referred to constitutional democracy. “Freedom of expression and a professional, ethical media are key elements in such a society,” said Mr. MacGregor.

“In a country with 80 per cent illiteracy and where radio is such an important medium, you have an important role, particularly in helping create peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” Mr. MacGregor added.

In Kunduz, there were eight journalists from different radio stations who participated in the training.

The Security Council Resolution 2041 (2012) adopted in March this year calls for full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including those of human rights defenders, and of international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan, welcomes the growth in Afghan free media, but notes with concern the continued restrictions on freedom of media, and attacks against journalists.

Omar Nasir Mojaddidi, the Head of Journalists’ House, said that it was important to have the training and expressed happiness for the UNAMA initiative.

The training covered theory and practice and was held using participatory-based approach where participants were required to actively participate in discussions and involved in different activities, according to Setyo Budi, UNAMA radio producer and trainer

On code of ethics, participants were given five scenarios. In each scenario, participants were asked to discuss topics such as how to avoid conflict of interest and eliminate personal bias. In one of the scenarios, male participants were asked to provide steps on how to eliminate personal bias towards women who are often denied education and employment when they are assigned to write a story by their editors on women’s welfare.

“A code of ethics offers rules and guidelines for professional behavior,” said Mr. Budi. “It means we have to avoid personal bias and use of influence”.

“By comparing welfare of a family that allows women in the household to work to another family that deny women to work, will help you eliminate personal bias and indirectly educate your audience,” added Mr. Budi.

Rafimullah Cena, a journalist of Youth Voice radio and a student of Herat University who participated in the training, said he liked the subject on ethics. “I learned it before but this is different,” said Mr. Cena.

During the evaluation session most of the participants expressed their hope that UNAMA would organize a similar training in the future. They also said that they would implement the journalistic technics, so they can become better journalists.