MARAWI CITY (PIA) — In line with National Disaster Resilience Month, the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) conducted a workshop last July 6-9 to equip communicators and journalists in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with the necessary skills to effectively report on conflict and traumatic situations.
Participants included information officers, photographers, and videographers from the BIO, communicators from various Bangsamoro frontline offices, including the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), and the Marawi Rehabilitation Program (MRP). Media practitioners from Lanao del Sur province also joined the workshop.
The training provided the participants with a comprehensive understanding of trauma and its effects. It also offered a framework for self-care when covering conflict and traumatic events, with practical techniques for approaching and interviewing survivors.
Importance of trauma-informed, ethical reporting
Participants praised the workshop’s timeliness and valuable content. Baelabi Shora Sabdullah, manager of Radyo Pilipinas Marawi, emphasized the importance of training for journalists assigned in conflict zones like the BARMM region.
“Every constituent must know what to do when conflict or calamities happen. Media practitioners must undergo training in conflict and trauma journalism, especially in BARMM, to enhance their resilience in disaster coverage,” she added.
Abulkhair Alibasa of Radyo Dansalan highlighted the workshop’s focus on the respectful and ethical treatment of survivors. “We learned the importance of obtaining consent before interviews and respecting the right of survivors to refuse publication if it compromises their privacy or safety,” he said.
Alibasa also noted the importance of self-care for journalists, emphasizing techniques for managing reactions to grief and building resilience. “This allows journalists to be more compassionate and effective in their reporting,” he stated.
Norlailah Nolan Datumolok of the BARMM-MRP likewise expressed her gratitude for the workshop. “I gained valuable skills for approaching and interviewing trauma survivors with sensitivity and professionalism,” she said.
According to her, the training further enhanced her understanding of trauma, resilience, and self-care, which will allow her to report on these events ethically and responsibly.
Along with basic life support training, the workshop included practical exercises, discussions, and an immersion at the scene (ground zero) of the 2017 Marawi siege. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
