Training to equip media professionals in Samoa with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively cover stories about violence against women and girls ended last week.

Angharad Malama Toma, a UNESCO representative said the training was important for educating journalists on how to cover the issue of violence in an ethical manner especially the new and upcoming media professionals.

She said journalists have to learn how to write about specific cases so that instead of adding to the trauma experienced by survivors and the public, their reporting will raise public awareness of this social issue and increase citizens' readiness to respond to and prevent violence.

Guest speakers included Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, and Judge Talasa Atoa Sa’aga, Talamua Media Editor, Apulu Lance Polu.

One of the participants, Lise Schmidt who is a media student, shared her experience during the training by saying that this platform gave her insight into reporting gender-based violence stories.

She said the training helped her to keep pursuing her passion in becoming a future journalist. 

The Journalist Association of Samoa (JAWS) President, Lagi Keresoma, highlighted in the training that it is significant for journalists to follow the media code of ethics and practices to help guide their methods of reporting especially when covering court cases relating to gender-based violence.

The training was conducted by Samoa Consult in partnership with the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) through funding support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the Spotlight Initiative.