2,000 journalists to be trained on monitoring government expenditure
FILE: Journalists from different Media houses in Mongu participate in the commemoration the world press freedom day.
The Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM), in conjunction with PANOS Institute Southern Africa, will soon embark on a project to train 2,000 journalists to monitor government expenditure in the health and education sectors.
ZAMCOM Director Oliver Kanene disclosed that the journalists will focus on how government funds on health and education infrastructure were spent.
Mr. Kanene said the reporters, who will all have to be based in Lusaka, will be empowered with smart phones that will enable them to access information on how much money government was spending on various projects in the two sectors.
He was speaking during a community radio station information and communication technologies (ICTs) training workshop for journalists in Lusaka today.
And Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) Director for Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Thomas Malama, said government and all members of the public play an important role in positively exploiting ICT for the betterment of society.
Mr. Malama said it was important for journalists to be acquainted with ICT as it was the most efficient information delivery vehicle.
He disclosed that ZICTA has so far embarked on a project to put up towers in several areas to improve access to internet services.
And PANOS Institute Southern Africa Executive Director Lillian Kiefer explained that the workshop was meant to enhance the ability of journalists in fulfilling their responsibilities using ICT tools.
Ms. Kiefer said community radio stations were an important tool in engaging government and communities on various matters.
ZANIS
Related News:
- Be accurate in your reporting, Journalists told
- Interpret the economic programmes to the people, journalists challenged
- MISA- Zambia condemns harassment of journalists
- State calls for increased monitoring of government projects
- MISA seeks audience with government over UNZA radio
- SIM and phone registration started in 2009, has nothing to do with PF-ZICTA
- German committed to improving ICT use in Media
2000 Journalists??? Why do young people choose such careers? Where do they get employment, with companies LT, ZWDog, Tumfweko, Muvi TV… Now they be trained to be auditors.
confusion! i thought it was going to wise to train 2000 farmers or engineers… but 2000 journalist?! maybe there is a critical shortage of journalist in zambia. hahahahahah
Actually, the shortage is of critical thinkers in the journalism profession. The limited scope with which the current journalist perform the duties of their chosen profession is disheartening. It does not help that they are muzzled by the state and often influenced to skew the news to one side or the other. Journalisms function in any society is that is multifaceted and mainly encompasses, information dissemination (education as well), analysis of news and policy to some extent in relation to how it all affects the citizens they serve, keeping leaders accountable by keeping up to date with expenditure and productivity, much like these 2000 are hoped to be trained to do. That my friend is why.
Lusaka will have 2,000 journalists ?. Really ?.
Could someone please also teach the journalists about basic sentence structure and how to spell?
I say the same thing every time, but I am beginning to think these are some of the effects of poor reading habits (not just Jelita and Mulenga or school sanctioned readings), lack of appreciation for the proper grammar / diction as well as laziness ,among other ills. In too many instances we find that – Zambians in this instance – seem so determined to just ‘get it done’ there is no pride in producing a really good product, be it a news article, customer service, oversight as in the lack thereof by LCC staff that ‘omitted’ improvement to the drainage system at the bus station. In short, WE NEED TO IMPROVE WORK ETHIC and spend more time producing better results in all that we do.
How will they be tracking whilst based in Lusaka?
The choice of having them stationed in Lusaka are mainly logistical ; moat government ministries are located in the capital lusaka. Parliament convene here as well. This fact will make it easy to get around from one ministry to another cutting down transportation costs. The turn around from journalistic investigation to actual print of an article related to what they are being trained for is cut short. When needed they can and will travel to other parts of the country to pursue background for their reports. I hope this helps explain it some.
*most gov ministers…
you have lost me here. “jounalists to monitor government spending?” what will the auditors do. what about M&E officers? i thought journalists are supposed to publicise and disseminate news(any news) as and when it breaks..!
Only wanna input on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the subject matter is really good : D.