By The Respondent Reporter - Kenya
Journalists from across Eastern Africa have convened in Nairobi for a three-day regional training aimed at reshaping how labor migration is reported in the region.
The event, organized under the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) and supported by the African Union Commission, International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), focuses on equipping media professionals with tools to produce balanced, evidence-based stories that reflect African perspectives.
Edwin Righa, head of the Eastern African cluster of the National Network of Journalists, opened the training by stressing the vital role journalists play in influencing public perception of migration.
“You are the truth-seekers and agenda-setters. Your role in how migration is perceived and acted upon is indispensable,” he said.
Righa highlighted the importance of moving beyond sensational or politically charged narratives to coverage that explores migration’s developmental impact and the lived experiences of labor migrants.
The region’s rapidly evolving economy and growing cross-border labor mobility, particularly among young people, underscore the need for more nuanced reporting.
However, Righa cautioned that many migration stories tend to focus disproportionately on crises, overlooking opportunities and stories of dignity and growth.
“Most migration stories focus on disasters. While these are important, we must also amplify stories of dignity, opportunity, and development,” he added.
A key focus of the workshop is bridging the gap between data and storytelling. Journalists are encouraged to incorporate statistics and evidence into their reporting to create sharper, faster, and more credible stories.
According to Righa, grounding migration narratives in facts will strengthen public trust and enhance understanding.
The training builds on the momentum of the Africa Labour Migration Journalist Network, launched in 2023 to promote ethical and collaborative journalism across the continent.
“This training marks a deepening of that vision to bring the newsroom closer to policymakers and the voices of migrant workers,” Righa added.
Erick Oduor, Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Journalists, echoed the call to reclaim African migration narratives from foreign sources.
“This training empowers us to present migration stories that reflect our realities, not foreign interests,” he said.
Oduor also announced the formation of a regional network representing seven Eastern African countries — Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Seychelles, and Comoros — aimed at localizing migration reporting and sustaining efforts through country-level networks.
Highlighting recent achievements, Oduor cited the Kenya Union of Journalists’ success in securing protections for migrant workers within a collective bargaining agreement, emphasizing the need to safeguard non-national workers within national borders.
“They deserve fair treatment and protection,” he stressed.
Participants were urged to actively engage in shaping migration policies at both national and continental levels.
“We must stop treating the media as an afterthought. The media should be at the table from the start, helping shape migration policies and public understanding,” Oduor concluded.
The training continues over the next two days, with expectations that the resulting stories and networks will contribute to transforming how Africa tells its migration story — authentically, accurately, and with meaningful impact.