FAAPA has trained 25 reporters from African Press Agencies to improve their techniques in photojournalism.
The five-day training seminar is organized by the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) at the African Center for the training of Journalists (CAFJ) at Rabat, Morocco, on the theme: “Mastering Photojournalism”.
The training therefore, was to enhance their knowledge of Photojournalists and to build their theoretical and practical capacities in Photojournalism
It is also to enable them to share experiences and reflections on challenges facing Photojournalists in Africa.
The training programme was supervised and led by experts in photojournalism, who transmitted to the participants during theoretical presentations and also encouraged them to enhance their techniques and develop professionalism.
During the training, the participants also had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and know how with the aim of contributing to the development of media libraries of their respective press agencies to improve photo technology.
In an interview with some of the experts in photojournalism, Badji Boubacar, Facilitator and also the Lecturer at the University of Sheikh Anta Diop (UCAD)) in Senegal noted that “photos tell stories in ways that words alone cannot achieve.“ In today’s visually driven world, where images dominate how we consume information, the role of photojournalism is more vital than ever”.
He said Photojournalism remained such an integral part of the media, its evolution, and its lasting impact on society.
According to him, digital age dynamics Social media and smartphones have democratized storytelling, enabling real time global sharing, while highlighting the need for professional photojournalists to maintain credibility.
He advised Photojournalists to balance truth with sensitivity, avoiding sensationalism and ensuring authenticity to uphold public trust.
Mr Arnauid Thierry, Gouegnon, Expert Photojournalist and also Facilitator from C’ote d’ Ivoire indicated that photojournalism remained a vital force in documenting reality, shaping perceptions, and inspiring action in an increasingly visual world.
He urged photojournalists to use the knowledge they have acquired during the training to improve on their visual storytelling, “photojournalists should be remarkable enhance their ability to evoke emotions, forge connections, and narrate stories in an instant.
Mr Mohammed Chamali, the Former Chief of Photo Desk in Agence Maghred Arabe Press (MAP) who was also one of the Expert Photojournalist, Facititor noted that powerful reach of photojournalism was with immense responsibility, Photojournalists must navigate the delicate balance between documenting reality and respecting the dignity of their subjects.
FAAPA (Federation of African Journalists’ Press Agency) is a network of African journalists and media organizations aimed at promoting press freedom, ethical journalism, and the professional development of journalists across the continent, aimed is trained and also build the capacity of organization offers training programs to enhance the skills and competencies of African journalists, helping them stay updated with best practices in the profession.
FAAPA also works to create a more vibrant, independent, and sustainable media landscape in Africa.
GNA
