Ouagadougou: The Burkinabe Media Observatory on Friday urged media outlets to better understand the national journalism charter and correct their structural weaknesses. The Burkinabe Media Observatory (OBM) held a workshop this Friday in Ouagadougou to present its 2024 report to editors-in-chief, editors-in-chief, and general secretaries. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the shortcomings identified in the national media landscape and to propose ways to strengthen professional quality and ethics.
According to Burkina Information Agency, OBM President Ouangrawa Hamado stated that the initiative is part of a global vision for continuous improvement in the services of Burkina Faso’s media companies. He invited journalists to pay particular attention to the communication of consultant Dr. Andre Marie Pouya, who focused on the structural and organizational weaknesses of the Burkinabe media.
In his presentation, Dr. Pouya highlighted several shortcomings, such as the lack of awareness of the National Charter of Burkinabe Journalism, the recurrence of grammatical errors in journalistic productions, and the low mobilization of press organs during events of national and international importance. To address these issues, he recommended increased popularization of the National Journalism Charter, strengthening the editorial and professional skills of journalists, and intensifying exchanges between media players and public authorities.
OBM’s organizational secretary, Benedicte Sawadogo, emphasized the importance of restraint and responsibility in journalism. “Communication and journalism in times of peace are not practiced in the same way as in times of crisis or war,” she noted, urging professionals to always prioritize ethics and the higher interests of the nation.