A seminar, organized by the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in Yamoussoukro, 240 km, north of Abidjan, for journalists working in private non-commercial radio ended on Wednesday, 5 June 2013.



The aim of the two-day event was to teach participants how to avoid spreading rumours, practicing their trade with professionalism, and promoting social cohesion and national reconciliation. It was also to help them take responsible initiatives for the development of their cities. But more importantly, the seminar intended to help them become key players in the preservation and consolidation of social cohesion and national reconciliation.



Speaking at the gathering, Robert Dimbongo Ngangué, the Coordinator of UNOCI's office in Yamoussoukro, said that the local media should be more open to all ethnic, religious, economic, social and cultural sensitivities.





The journalists were sensitised on their fundamental role in the fight against the spreading of rumours. In addition, they were urged to adhere to the principles of the ethics and professional conduct and to fully implement them in their daily duties. They were also asked to take into account their listeners' interests.



The vice-president of the Union of Private Radio of Côte d'Ivoire (URPCI), Abdoulaye Cissé, who made a presentation at the training sessions, assured UNOCI that his organisation would ensure that its members fully play their role as community journalists. "The State of Côte d'Ivoire has given them the mission to inform, raise awareness and educate people, " he added.



At the end of the training, the participants adopted several resolutions and made several recommendations. They decided to open their radio stations to all social sensibilities, to check the facts before broadcasting any news items and to refuse to serve as a channel for spreading rumours.



They asked UNOCI to continue to organise such workshops to reinforce the capacity of local radios and to allow journalists of private radio to be trained by ONUCI FM.



Participants came from the regions of Belier, Haut-Sassandra, Goh, N'Zi, Marahoué, Iffou, Gbeke, Tchologo and Grand Ponts and from the autonomous districts of Abidjan and Yamoussoukro.