Story by Jonathan Marerwa in Beijing, China
African journalists have been described as hardworking, efficient and self-driven.
The sentiments were made this Tuesday at the Jianguomenwai Diplomatic Residence Compound in Beijing by Zhong Xin, a professor at the School of Journalism and Communications at Renmin University in China, while delivering a lecture to media practitioners from Africa, the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific regions.
Professor Zhong, who is also the Deputy Director of the Public Diplomacy Centre, disclosed that media practitioners from Africa have debunked the stereotyping of journalists from the continent of being lazy and not research minded by going an extra mile during the discharge of their duties.
She said media personnel from Africa have always displayed great dedication to duty and serve their organisations and countries with distinction, a feat which is evidenced by the time and effort they put in their work.
Professor Zhong, who has published over ten books and over 200 research articles some of them award winning, believes that international co-operation makes a better world adding that each individual has a part to play.
She said the Belt and Road Initiative has resulted in mutual relationships that have led to a lot of exchange programmes in the media field among others between China and Africa adding that such co-operation has moulded patriotic journalists who are very critical in their reportage and who also have helped in fighting against Western media propaganda on the two blocs.
The veteran media trainer urged African media to always be at the forefront of telling the true story of China-Africa relations which are built on mutual trust and on win-win situations.
Meanwhile, Professor Zhong says despite the advent of social media, traditional sources of information dissemination still have a role to play in the churning out of accurate and trustworthy news.
She bemoaned the misuse of social media which she said carries a lot of fake news and she reiterated that it is the duty of responsible media practitioners to always provide true and responsible news.
