A pivotal ‘Training of Trainers on Road Safety Journalism’ workshop, supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), wrapped up on Sunday, marking a significant step towards bolstering the quality of road safety reporting in Bangladesh.
Hosted by the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication (BNNRC), the event took place from March 2-3 at the Savar CCDB Hope Center. It was meticulously designed to refine the reporting capabilities of journalists, emphasizing the importance of the Safe System Approach to road safety.
The workshop aimed at arming journalists from various media landscapes—including daily newspapers, both public and private TV channels, online news portals, and news agencies—with the essential knowledge and tools to effectively cover road safety issues.
The curriculum was rich and varied, covering a broad spectrum of topics. These ranged from global road safety perspectives to the local context, including the Safe Road Safety Approach, comprehensive road safety laws, risk factors, crash reporting, fact-checking, and verification tools. It also touched on constructive interview techniques, the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to road safety, and a detailed overview of road safety challenges in Bangladesh.
In the workshop's opening remarks, AHM Bazlur Rahman of BNNRC, Taifur Rahman of GRSP, Dr. Shariful Alam, and Mervyn Christian of GHAI underscored the training's significance. They emphasized how vital it is for journalists to report on road safety through an evidence-based lens, highlighting the training's role in fostering a more informed and proactive media landscape in addressing road safety issues.
The closing session saw AHM Bazlur Rahman, Taifur Rahman, and Dr. Shariful Alam expressing their gratitude and optimism. They articulated their hope that the training would lead to a tangible improvement in the quality of road safety journalism, enabling reporters to delve deeper into issues surrounding the Safe System Approach and comprehensive road safety laws and policies.
