(TALKZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe journalism discredited

Zimbabwe journalism discredited
Peter Chimutsa -- Opinion
Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:13:00 +0000

DEAR EDITOR -- ZIMBABWE journalism has become discredited by polarization that we witnessed on the political scene prior to the creation of the inclusive Government. The whole journalistic fraternity needs a revamp.

I think journalism courses in Zimbabwe should be reviewed and all journalists should be required to hold "A" levels and a degree to practice journalism.

The ignorance and failure to grasp issues and concepts exhibited by some of our Zimbabwean journalists is astounding. Many Zimbabwean journalists in the Diaspora have gone on to acquire Masters degrees in journalism without requisite "A" levels and Bachelors degrees. They have used the mature entry system in the UK and USA to get these qualifications, but have often exhibited ignorance in the field of practice.

Others have been allocated responsibilities without the required experience and have had to learn on the job -- setting a dangerous precedent in reporting on Zimbabwe.

Heated political debate in Zimbabwe has given rise to polarisation of our community; and at a time when the nation is healing journalists should support the peace-making process by reporting accurately on the issues at hand.

A case in point is the reporting on the funeral of Mrs Susan Tsvangirai and the crash. Many Zimbabwean journalists, especially in the Diaspora gave people their own opinions and not the facts on the ground. When Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai declared the accident as genuine, many reporters went on to discredit that statement blaming the Government for the crash. As details emerge, many of these journalists are still trying to lay blame on the Government, thereby discrediting themselves.

It is sad that many of these journalists have acres of Western-funded space where they reach out to many people in the country. They are using these spaces to poison communities with their opinions and their activist reporting.

Journalists should be of benefit to society, especially at a time when the nation is healing. They should exhort each other to improve their performance.

Reporting on technical issues requires skilled journalists, not the activist type that we currently have in Zimbabwe. Politics is a very broad field: National defense, international relations, the judiciary, the economy and finance are all related to politics, but each is a discipline in its own right.

Field expertise by journalists, and not simply common sense, is needed to come up with convincing reporting that is beneficial to the country and the public.

We have "jacks-of-all-trades" currently in the Diaspora -- journalists who report on everything and who get away "with murder". Many Zimbabweans are treated to a barrage of half-baked, opinion-laden stories passed of as "news bulletins".

Journalists should understand that the objective of the media is to work for the improvement of society. Hence, rational thinking and discussion are essential when making commentaries.

Radio stations and commentators are entitled to their opinions, but neither should distort the facts. Zimbabwean society, already beset by internal division, can only advance if we promote more balance. Commentators and economic and political analysts should be an educated lot. If they have the will and the self-respect, they can become a positive force in society.

However, the current crop, which is often recycled to comment on technical and non-technical issues, leaves a lot to be desired.
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Peter Chimutsa
peterchimutsa@yahoo.com