Accra: The Whistleblowers and Journalists Safety International Centre (WAJSIC) in partnership with Lazarus-Training Ltd has organised a training workshop aimed at equipping journalists with essential survival and safety skills when operating in high-risk zones: The four-day training focused on medical response, risk assessment, communication planning, and conflict management.
According to Ghana News Agency, the training additionally covered crowd and conflict management, with discussions on journalists' perceptions of risk. Participants were also taken through risk assessment techniques, learning to anticipate potential dangers before entering a conflict area and to plan accordingly for safer operations.
Mr. Alistair Hollington, Course Director of the Lazarus Training Ltd, emphasized that good habits such as remaining calm, thinking ahead, and lowering one's profile were life-saving techniques in conflict reporting. He stressed the need for reporters to stay alert, calm, and resilient while covering violent or unpredictable situations.
Mr. Chris Mitchell, a Safety Expert with Lazarus Training Ltd, guided participants through risk assessment techniques and how to anticipate potential dangers before entering a conflict area. He urged journalists to 'stay calm, keep a low profile, and be patient' when dealing with security officials or traveling through conflict zones. He also stressed the importance of having primary contingency and emergency alternative channels to ensure consistent contact with newsroom teams even under pressure.
Mr. Abdoulaye Diallo, Executive Director of WAJSIC, thanked the facilitators on behalf of the organisation. He stated that the training was part of broader efforts to enhance journalists' safety, resilience, and professional readiness when reporting from dangerous environments.
