Strengthening Ethical Storytelling and Media Capacity in Erbil: Violet Organization Participates in CNN Academy Training with SEED’s Support

Building responsible communication skills to amplify community voices and create meaningful impact.

From November 23 to 26, Ms. Arina Mohammed, Media Manager at Violet Organization, participated in an intensive four-day CNN Academy workshop held in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The training brought together communicators and storytellers from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen their skills in ethical storytelling, mobile journalism, and responsible reporting.

Sponsored by SEED, this opportunity supported Violet Organization’s efforts to strengthen its communications capacity and share community experiences in a professional, ethical, and impactful way. Violet Organization extends its sincere appreciation to SEED for sponsoring its participation and supporting professional development within the civil society sector.

Throughout the four-day workshop, participants developed practical skills in camera composition, interviewing, scripting, video editing, and field reporting under the guidance of experienced trainers. The sessions emphasized the importance of accuracy, informed consent, safeguarding, and protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of survivors and vulnerable individuals.

For Violet Organization, effective communication goes beyond sharing information. It means representing communities responsibly, ensuring that people's experiences are communicated with dignity, and raising awareness without compromising the rights or safety of those whose stories are being told.

Participation in this training represents a valuable step toward strengthening Violet Organization’s media and communications capacity. By applying the knowledge and skills gained, the organization aims to communicate its initiatives more effectively, highlight community needs and experiences, and connect local work with wider national and international audiences.

Violet Organization is grateful to SEED for supporting this professional development opportunity and to CNN Academy for the training. The organization also acknowledges Media City Erbil for hosting the workshop.

Through continued learning, collaboration, and a commitment to ethical storytelling, Violet Organization seeks to ensure that the stories it shares contribute to greater awareness, understanding, and positive social change while respecting the dignity and rights of every individual.

Empowering communicators means empowering communities. By strengthening ethical media practices, Violet Organization remains committed to telling stories responsibly, amplifying community voices, and creating meaningful impact locally and beyond.