Journalists For Christ (JFC) International Outreach has shortlisted 20 pitches from journalists, creative writers, presenters/producers, content creators and allied professionals who pitched story ideas after it called for pitches on advancing the living conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.
According to President of JFC, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, the stories are expected to generate reactions and call attention of relevant duty bearers to the plights of IDPs in Nigeria.
“We announced that journalists who have story ideas or investigative report that will influence the desired change for the benefit of IDPs should pitch story ideas and we are happy to have harvested fantastic pitches,” he said.
He continued that, “These Nigerians now referred to as IDPs have been displaced in their own country where they are now suffering for what they did not cause. We are hopeful these stories would be well positioned to solve problems.
“Now that 20 pitches have been selected, we are going to organise a virtual workshop for the successful journalists to further guide them on getting good angles to their stories,” he said.
Otufodunrin also said that, “The successful 20 journalists after the virtual capacity building workshop shall be supported with a token to undertake a field visit to selected IDP camps/communities and write/publish pitched stories/special reports on a specific ‘solutions-driven’ IDP issue.”
It is anticipated that in collaboration with focal IDP persons/representatives, the outcome/impact from the pitched stories will be solutions-driven reports that will produce quick-wins in required policy changes/interventions that advance the rights of IDPs in Nigeria.
The project titled: ’Advancing the Rights and Welfare of Internally Displaced Persons Through Media Monitoring, Investigative Journalism and Media-driven Advocacy,’ is being implemented by JFC with the support of the World Association for Christian Communications (WACC) and the Bread for the World (German Protestant Agency for Diaconia Development).