ZIMBABWEAN journalists should report sensitively on human rights stories, the ZimRights Bulawayo regional co-ordinator Florence Ndlovu has said. BRIDGETTE BUGALO OWN CORRESPONDENT
Speaking during a human rights versus women’s rights reporting workshop held in commemoration of International Human Rights Day organised by the Women’s Media for Development Foundation (WMDF), Ndlovu said human rights-focused journalism was essential as it protected the rights of communities.
“Human rights stories should be prioritised by the media and journalists should protect the ordinary people’s rights, particularly the women and children who are always disadvantaged. Media practitioners should also avoid envelope journalism as it affects the coverage of human rights issues,” Ndlovu said.
“Such stories should give hope and not incite revenge. This means that stories should not just be plain facts, but consider the human aspect and the effects a story would have on the society.”
Ndlovu said human rights stories included reporting on women’s rights.
Speaking at the same event, WMDF director Sibusisiwe Bhebhe said human rights needed to be at the top of the media’s agenda and encouraged journalists to ensure that human rights and women’s rights issues were prioritised.
“Human rights stories should be prioritised by media houses over profit-making because as long as society’s rights are violated, there will not be enough people willing or able to buy the newspapers,” she said.
