Journalists in Seychelles are learning new ways to help their communities during disasters, according to a press release. From June 23 to 27, a group of media workers took part in a workshop run by the Center for Disaster Risk Management and Community Development Studies (CDRM & CDS), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The program showed how to keep newsrooms working in tough times and how to share clear, simple information when people need it most.
Participants practiced real disaster scenarios. They learned to make backup plans in case roads close or power goes out.
Marie-Claude d’Unienville from SBC said, “This workshop has been an eye-opener. We need to think about the risks we have in our own working environment.”
The group also talked about ways to include people with disabilities when sharing emergency updates. Disability advocate Christine Winslow pointed out that people with disabilities often get left out. “Persons with disabilities do get forgotten and ignored… especially when it comes to accessibility,” she said. The workshop pushed for making news and alerts available to all.
Leaders from both media and disaster management said it’s important to keep reporters safe while they cover emergencies.
“We want to empower media to educate our public and also to protect themselves,” said Jade Landry from the Disaster Risk Management Division.
The training even helped shape new lessons for students at the University of Seychelles. As storms and other threats grow, this program shows that good reporting can help save lives and keep everyone better prepared.
