IJ Reporting Crucial In Development – MISA Malawi

By Norbert Tambalamtuwa Mzembe

Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA Malawi chapter) has urged Journalists in the country to apply more effort in laying bare issues that matter to the community to ensure that community members participate in decision making processes.

A group of journalists displaying their certificates after the training

Chairperson for MISA Malawi Chapter, Teresa Chirwa Ndanga made the call in Lilongwe during an investigative journalism training for 12 journalists from various media houses in the country organized by DW Akademie in partnership with MISA Malawi.

The twelve journalists have been groomed with investigative skills to unveil hidden information.

“We do hope and we are optimistic that the skills imparted on these journalists have now will help them dig deeper into how policy decisions are being taken and how they are implemented especially in the communities they are serving.”

“We would want to ensure that they are skilled enough to dig things that some people would want hidden; things that are being done in secret and even make sure that the policies that are being enacted would impact the citizenry positively,” said Ndanga.

Ndanga further challenged media personnel not to use investigate journalism as a tool for damaging people’s reputation but to bring about positive change in the society. She also urged them to observe media code of conduct and ethics in obtaining news so that they should not cut corners by using unlawful means of obtaining information. She further urged them to exercise patience as investigate journalism requires more time to gather information for public consumption.

On his part, the Mangochi Monkey Bay based Dzimwe Community Radio Presenter, Virinhu Dzimbiri said the training was very critical hence it would be a waste of resources if the 12 trained journalists will not put into practice what they learned from the training because they are representing the community.

Dzimbiri said, “looking at the way they have invested in this four-day training, it will be irresponsible of us not to put into practice what we have learnt.”

The training took place at Sunbird Lilongwe Hotel from 21 to 24 August, 2020 where Tuntufye FM’s Norbert Tambalamtuwa Mzembe was among the twelve journalists who were awarded an investigative journalism certificate for successfully completing the training.