Training on child journalism is a call to action with the aim of strengthening children's capability for using the positive practice of media to change society. With the participation of 20 children, 2 days of journalism training has been conducted from 26th to 27th at Ghoraghat. Children have learned in-depth knowledge in news writing skills that can be used for ensuring the best interest of children. The training session also includes ethics of journalists, developing press releases, different types of news, photography for news, etc.
ActionAid Bangladesh is running community-level child journalist groups so that they can take part in community development through writing. In Ghoraghat, ActionAid has been mobilizing 20 children in a group named child journalist group. Group members take part in regular meetings, publish wall magazines twice a year, and community newsletter once a year supported by ActionAid.
“Untold stories of children can be a subject of newspaper publication. I received this kind of training before but every time there is a lot to learn. I have learned how to write child stories as news and how to share our thought in writing. I enjoy doing work as a child journalist in my community. But I needed deep knowledge on how to find issues from our everyday life and ensure children’s wellbeing and protection while reporting. Participating in this training, I think what I needed is clear. I hope I can give good delivery now on,” said by Fatema (15) read in class nine and a member of the Community Journalist Group.
“This is the first training I received on child journalism. It is great to learn about how journalists act as the conscience of a nation. We are all delighted to be part of this training that has given us news reporting knowledge with fun activities. I have learned different angles of taking pictures and videos for journalism. I will try my best to use these in real life and I will move forward with the goal of becoming a journalist.” said by Nirmol (15), read in class ten and a member of Community Journalist Group.
“Besides working in my child journalist group, I used to face the challenge to differentiate feature and news, but I have come to know some easy strategies to do so. It will help me develop quality features or news. We got a lot to know about participating in this training program and I hope I can teach my learning to my friends. We used to write news for our community group newsletter, but we are confident that one day we will be able to publish our writing on national news platforms.” said by Chotyon (16) who read in class ten and a member of Community Journalist Group.
The training session has explored children’s representation in newspapers and the opportunity of children on the local and national platforms.
