Migrants as Messengers messages are intended for many audiences. In addition to primary and secondary audiences (young people with a desire to migrate, and their friends and family) – messages are also created for tertiary audiences which are the media, governments, civil society organizations, community and religious leaders, and more. These groups shape and influence the environment in which primary and secondary target audiences gain knowledge, shape attitudes and practice certain behaviours. One way that partners can be involved in MaM are training. Trainings support collaborations with partners to disseminate campaign content and create sustainable synergies between the Volunteers and local civil society.
For journalists specifically – providing trainings on migration reporting so as to ensure that accurate information is being shared in the media can help communities and families to support migrants in making knowledgeable choices. Moreover, fair stories contribute to upholding the dignity of migrants worldwide.
Step by step on how to implement this pillar:
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Organize a meeting with existing and potential partners to introduce the project and discuss trainings needs and interests.
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Develop a training plan and training materials (this can include engaging experts to support with upcoming trainings) based on needs and interests.
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Find out as much as possible about the participants and what they hope to learn before the training, so that the training can be tailored to their interests.
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Use the Journalist Toolkit (available on yenna.org) to help facilitate trainings. This Toolkit includes a set of creative and engaging educational tools that can be tailored for different audiences. The tools include:
- Online course – A 60-minute course that introduces migration terms and trends, and best practices for fair and ethical reporting.
- An online game - This choice-based game draws on the real-life experiences of migrants. It highlights the many difficult decisions people face in irregular migration situations and encourages further learning.
- Journalist Handbook - This handbook provides guidance on the complexities of migration and provides advice on finding and publishing migration-related stories, in an ethical manner.
- In-class Journalist Training - This fully tailorable, nine-module course can be conducted in person. The course provides students with a complete picture of migration, and the role of journalists in telling migration-related stories
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Have participants fill out pre- and post- training surveys to assess knowledge gained during the training as well as receive feedback on the training to be able to improve future trainings.
Featured activities:
C4D Training for partners in The Gambia
In June 2022, IOM staff with the help of MaM Volunteers facilitated a training on migration and Communication for Development (C4D) for the newly established Network Against Irregular Migration (NETAIM). The training supported the association learn about migration concepts and how to develop awareness raising campaigns on migration in a participatory way.
Media master class in Guinea
In July 2021, IOM along with MaM Volunteers organized a media master class for professional and student journalists as well as bloggers. The course aimed to encourage balanced and diverse reporting on migration issues. The course covered the following elements:
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Understanding the complexities of migration
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Reporting migration as human-interest stories using a rights-based approach
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Finding ideas and facts on migration-related topics
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Understanding the importance of the media's role in reporting on migration
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Understanding migration laws and procedures
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Applying ethical considerations in reporting
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Adopting a gender-sensitive and inclusive approach to reporting
Media dialogue on migration in Nigeria
In July 2021, 24 media editors in Nigeria participated in a training by IOM and MaM Volunteers on the fundamentals of reporting migration stories including protection of the rights of migrants, terminology, mental health and the media, gender balance in reportage, migration and climate change and effective storytelling. As an outcome of the training, the editors agreed to set up migration desks and to have migration reporters dedicated to cover migration stories. The participants also identified how they can ensure journalists in their newsrooms report migration more ethically.
Tips for future implementation:
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There is a need to promote migration as a public issue in West Africa's media environment. Journalists are interested in the topic but not very knowledgeable about the issue nor where to source information.
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Trainings for partners should be part of the broader strategy of engaging with media and establishing partnerships. They are an excellent way to keep potential partners engaged with the project.
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Training sessions should be linked with journalists' competitions, encouraging trained participants to use their skills for a regional audience.