NOMRA Trains Journalist on Implementation of the National Policy on Migration

Following the interactive and participatory workshop organised in October 2015 for practicing journalists which focused primarily on the National Policy on Migration; the Network of Migration Research on Africa (NOMRA) organised a one—day follow-up training for 14 practicing journalists from fourteen media houses.

The follow-up Training on “Reporting Migration in Support of the Implementation of the National Policy on Migration” engaged practicing journalists who were unable to attend the first (two-day) workshop and critically assess the extent to which migration reportage has been enhanced in the intervening period.

Discussion ranged from Challenges and Opportunities for Enhanced Reporting on Migration Issues: Data, Retrieval, Dissemination, Funding, sustaining the Momentum of the transition to linking the National Migration Policy Plan of Action and Valletta Summit Action Plan.

Journalists were adequately equipped on how to go about reporting migration issues as well as the best international practices on covering and reporting migration. Participants were also advised on how to effectively link the National Migration Policy plan of action to the Valletta summit action plan as well as the challenges and opportunities in reporting on migration. Journalists also deliberated extensively on story ideas that could be covered in migration reporting.

Nevertheless, some of the key decisions taken by participants at the end of the training workshop for creating a better platform for reporting on migration (in support of the implementation of the national policy on migration) are as follows:

• That there is indeed an urgent need to put in more effort to report issues of migration correctly and enhance scope of migration reportage networks.
• That there is need for media houses to have a specialised desk for migration reporting.
• That there is increased need for media role in accurate and timely reportage of migration issues. As a result, there is need for more evidence-based reporting on migration matters.
• That media houses should prioritise migration reporting.
• That there is need for the media to urge the government to make more commitments on migration issues.