Media practitioners in Osun State have been urged to embrace conflict-sensitive reporting and adopt peace-driven narratives in covering communal crises, particularly in flashpoint communities.
The call was made on Thursday at Osogbo during a media and peacebuilding workshop organised under the Preach for Peace Initiative, aimed at equipping journalists with the skills needed for responsible and solution-oriented reporting during conflicts.
In his welcome address, the Team Lead of the Peace Building Initiative, Opeyemi Oladimeji, emphasised the critical role journalists play in maintaining peace, especially in conflict-prone areas. He urged participants to be deliberate, balanced, and professional in their reportage.
“We want all the participants present here to be more sensitive in reporting conflicts across the state and beyond,” he said, warning that careless or sensational reporting could escalate tensions rather than promote understanding.
Facilitator Rasheed Adebiyi explained that the training focused on improving how journalists report long-standing communal clashes, particularly those involving Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun.
“We are here to talk to journalists on how to be more sensitive in reporting conflicts. Our analysis has shown that these crises have lingered for years, and the question is when they will be resolved if we continue to report only violence without exploring solutions,” he said.
Adebiyi stressed the importance of solution journalism, urging reporters to go beyond episodic coverage of clashes and highlight peacebuilding efforts within affected communities.
“Journalists should not only report when violence breaks out; they should also examine initiatives that can ensure lasting peace,” he added.
Also speaking, Ridwan Kolawole of the University of Ibadan described the media as a critical partner in peacebuilding, cautioning against sensationalism, ethnic profiling, and inflammatory reporting.
“What we say in the media shapes public opinion, and it can either promote peace or fuel conflict,” he said, adding that global examples have shown how media narratives can worsen crises if not handled responsibly.
The Executive Director of PEACAD Network, Akinremi Olawale, said the workshop was designed to reshape media narratives toward reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
“Media practitioners are the voices that shape perspectives. We want them to streamline their reports in ways that encourage peaceful engagement, especially in Ifon, Ilobu and Erin-Osun,” he said.
Olawale added that the initiative, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, had earlier engaged youths and community stakeholders as part of broader efforts to resolve recurring conflicts.
“We have seen that the communities want peace, but what is lacking is a structured process to achieve it. The media have a role to play in championing that process,” he noted.
Providing background to the context of the crisis earlier, Jare Tiamiyu explained how media houses in Osogbo allowed one-sided interviews, sponsored news items, fake news and broadcast unverified reports in days leading to the crisis.
He urged media horses and journalists to take greater responsibility in managing information shared with the generalpublic. .
He urged them to be mindful of how they engage with the media and warned against the spread of misinformation.
“We must put an end to sponsoring people to spread fake news or give misleading reports about incidents. Research shows the crisis started with the media and was escalated in the media for weeks before it degenerated into what it is today” he said, stressing that verified and accurate information is key to preventing further conflict.
A member of the initiative, Koyum Hussain Adekunle, said the programme was inspired by recent communal clashes and the need for sustainable peace.
“Peace is life. Without peace, there can be no development. This initiative is about creating lasting harmony in our communities,” he said.
Participants at the workshop commended the organisers, describing the training as insightful and impactful.
Editor of Voice Air Media, Bright Olorungbotemi, said journalists must move beyond reporting breaking news that escalates crises and instead focus on balanced, solution-driven coverage.
Publisher of Harbinger Online Media, Boluwatife Adedokun, said the training had reshaped her understanding of conflict reporting.
“I’ve learned that my reports should calm tensions, not inflame them. The choice of words matters a lot,” she said.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by the Preach for Peace Initiative to foster dialogue, strengthen community engagement, and promote sustainable peace across Osun State.
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