In a bid to increase fair and balanced reportage of gender issues, rape and sexual orientations, a non governmental organization, Projekthope, is inviting Nigerian journalists and bloggers to a training on reporting gender matters.

Projekthope’s coordinator, Steve Aborisade, said in a statement on Monday that the aim of the training, is in tandem with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1 which states:

“Journalism ethics demand that practitioners are conscious of the overriding need to be free from the shackles of biases, relying only on utmost integrity in the search for and reporting of the truth; fairly, honestly and accurately as possible.”

Aborisade who called for applications from across the media outlets as well as from bloggers, said that interested persons will on their own volition request application packets and should demonstrate interest or experience in resolving and drawing critical policy and societal
attention to knotty issues with impacts.

“Applications are now open to this four-part seminar series which will be offered in Lagos and Abuja between December 20, 2014 and January 24, 2015. Applications are due December 20, 2014.”

He added, “This certificate program combines formal education with in-the-field reportage to give reporters advanced skills in gender and sexuality reporting.”

Projekthope, is involved in developing capacity of media practitioners and selected applicants will be able to bid for grants to cover related stories more extensively, with funding provided by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.