Is Zambian Journalism up to scratch?

Sometimes it makes ones skin crawl, sometimes one is simply embarrassed, sometimes one feels completely disrespected by it but most of the time it simply is disappointing.

The Zambian journalist has such a great opportunity. There is so much going on in Zambia. Politics, economics, social issues, health, (in)justice and so much more to report, analyze, critique, provide insight to, provoke social debate on.

Sadly, most of the time our journalists simply report the obvious. Have you noticed that the headlines all look alike or are a copy of one that was published last week, month or year? Have you seen how silly it is that every sports commentator is a parody of Dennis Liwewe?

What I would give to watch a seriously researched programme on Zambian TV or listen to one on the radio that doesn't assume the viewers and listeners to have IQ's of amoeba.

I happened to watch part of a programme on a local station today. It was supposed to be giving advice to someone who had written in. This was my second attempt to watch this programme this year. The presenter first of all seemed to have picked this question randomly, selected her panelists badly and expected these persons to have had understood the question and instant insight, analysis and answers to the question. This was a shame. The question was a good one and relevant to viewers.

I really believe the presenters / moderators / directors / producers of these programmes should:

1. Have sufficient respect for the possible viewing audience to do extensive back ground research on the topics. To ensure that there is evidence informed discussion.
2. Select articulate discussants well in advance and inform them with a few weeks to spare of the topics to be discussed.
3. Possibly get the invited discussants (if not already specialists) to produce some small paper on the topic that can be shared and dissected by all in advance. Thus stands (points of view) would be clear well in advance, leading to more lively and informative discussion.
4. Poll the public well in advance to get public opinion on the discussion topic. This would also be a great advertisement tool as people would want to see and hear their views. Then instead of only random callers , they could call back specific people

The news papers are hardly much better. It seems that the journalists never read outside the Zambian dailies. They really need to read a lot more widely. Not only should they read news papers, they should read other books and published works to broaden their mental horizons. Their vocabulary would grow past their current 1,000 words and phrases and they would set the minds of their readership challenges. Standards would get better as we would demand equally good and/or better quality. As it stands, it is all I can do to read the headlines and the introductory sentences in bold. I do not waste my time with more in Zambian papers with exception to the Edem articles.

Journalist please raise the bar, I know you can do better.

RZM - do you think this criteria applies to online journalists? I think people make more personal connections with people online and thus are able to respect their audience, articulate discussions through comments, polls and forums. Do you think Zambian journalists should be doing more online?

 I think that not only should Zambian jounalists be doing more work online, they should "cut" their journalistic "teeth" online. Here they can get proper (peer) review and critique.

Few people are born with the writing / presentation talent, the rest must learn the art but all must practice to be perfect (or as close to as possible).

Along with just presenting their work for public scrutiny, they should read the critique that is done on other work.

 

I sometimes wish I had the skill. Unfortunately, the gift of the gab eludes me, but I do know how to recognise it when I see it.

:) My national pride and jubilance, I cordially put forward as a dedicated and one who's proud that I AM A ZAMBIAN. My heartful thanks to you The Zambian, and having been quite regular, I congratulate you for your max efforts towards the enhacing of our pride as Zambians, especially right now, in an age when the net is already the most effective meadium of spreading information. Your new site is really moving. Thankyou, and keep it up!! Coming back to the question on the table, I, personally, side the idea that it is high time that our media men came online, for the age is commanding, and, I think that bloggin has to be encouraged too. Zambians are amongst the most indignant citizens on this earth, and I respect the Zambian media audience for its tolerance and compromise to the general nature of the local media. As a media specialist myself, I truly agree with the commentary suggesting that maybe our journalists should spend some more time in reviewing and analyzing other world media too. Not to mention a lot, it's true that basically, editors are either editted by the media sponsors, or, as it is mostly common world-wide, the editor cares for his own family, and so, he's made to play his own music and dance to it through self-sensorship. It's not one or two Zambian editors who simply avoid to make journal changes in news approach and value of his reader's or viewer's expectations; however, there's quite little that can be done, according to our observation, but a step is better than none at all. Not so? But this is where I have to call on you, The Zambian, together with other online media, to give mordern motivation and advice to the so-called "Zambian Media Tycoons", to leave journalists to practice more freely, Without Fear or Favor in deed. Well, gentlemen, let's call it a day for now; thanks once again for putting Zambia up!