By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

Journalists have been challenged to move beyond sensational headlines and make sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) reporting a tool for prevention, survivor protection and accountability.

The call came during the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Media Corps Workshop in Abuja, where Dr. Tim Aniebonam, SGBV Media Corps Mentor, and Dr. Lauratu Abdulsalam, SGBV Media Corps Mentor, separately examined the media’s responsibilities in reporting SGBV.

Dr. Aniebonam, while addressing the role of the media in preventing and responding to SGBV, said journalists have the power to either reinforce harmful stereotypes or challenge them and become part of the solution.

He urged media practitioners to use ethical, evidence-based and survivor-centred journalism to inform the public, challenge harmful norms, amplify survivor voices, hold institutions accountable and promote prevention.

He introduced the RUSH framework – Responsibility, Urgency, Sensitivity and Hope – as an approach to sustained SGBV reporting, stressing that journalists should not abandon stories after the initial incident but follow cases through investigations, prosecution and justice.

Dr. Aniebonam also urged journalists to prepare adequately before interviews, protect survivors during reporting and follow up after publication to assess the impact of their stories.

In her session on Ethical SGBV Reporting: Confidentiality, Privacy and Informed Consent, Dr. Abdulsalam placed survivor protection at the centre of responsible journalism.

She urged journalists to apply the “Do No Harm” principle throughout the reporting process, warning against publishing information that could expose survivors to stigma, retaliation, retraumatisation or further violence.

She stressed that journalists must protect names, photographs, locations, schools, workplaces, family details and other information capable of identifying survivors.

Dr. Abdulsalam further explained that informed consent is not merely obtaining a signature, but must be voluntary, informed, specific and revocable.

She also highlighted the need for stronger safeguards when reporting cases involving children and encouraged journalists to adopt trauma-informed approaches that give survivors greater control over interviews and their personal stories.

A key question from the session challenged journalists to consider whether an SGBV story serves a legitimate public interest or merely satisfies curiosity at the survivor’s expense.

The two sessions formed part of the capacity-building programme for the SGBV Media Corps, which seeks to strengthen ethical, coordinated and survivor-centred reporting on SGBV and technology-facilitated SGBV.

The workshop was organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) with support from the European Union Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Programme, implemented by International IDEA.

The emerging message from the sessions was clear: SGBV journalism must do more than expose violence, it must protect survivors, challenge impunity, inform communities and keep the pressure on until justice and meaningful change are achieved.