Journalists implored to do research when reporting
Story by Grace Sibanda
A call has been made for local media practitioners to tell the true Zimbabwean story from an informed perspective.
Having opened the media space to accommodate divergent views, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services is moving with speed to capacitate local journalists in their reportage of local stories to match SADC standards.
True to the Second Republic`s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, the ministry has also devolved SADC reporting capacity-building initiatives with another leg being held at Montrose Studios in Bulawayo this Friday.
Participants commended the initiative by the parent ministry which is expected to sharpen their reportage.
“For years I wanted to enter the SADC awards, but I didn’t have proper information about the requirements. I realised that reporting is not only about the Zimbabwean context alone but is about telling a regional story,” said one of the participants.
Another added, “It was a good opportunity for us journalists to learn how to integrate today`s society and find sustainable development solutions to various issues.”
“It is quite interesting that there are some elements we did not understand, and you realise that they greatly impact our programming at the end of the day, so this enlightenment has put us in a better space to produce something that impacts the region,” said another participant.
Director of International Services in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Richard Mahomva said journalists have a part to play in the information ecology.
“The starting point is that this is a SADC reportage capacity building initiative meant to help our journalists reportage that feeds into the development ecology of the SADC and we are saying in the Zimbabwean story journalists are connected to the development thrust of the SADC and in that respect it registers our bona-fide membership in the SADC and more importantly it serves as a homage paying platform given that the SADC set the 25th as the anti-sanctions day. It is a reciprocal homage opportunity,” he said.
The Second Republic has opened the media space to accommodate divergent views through the licensing of television stations and establishment of community radio stations.