Neglect of Developmental Journalism Highlighted

A pertinent issue discussed in the 2009 Highway Africa Conference in Grahamstown, South Africa
The Neglect of Developmental Journalism was a main issue of concern to be trashed by academia, media practitioners and consultants during the topic; reporting Development: Media and Africa’s Development Agenda in the Highway Africa 2009.
Highway Africa is a partnership between Rhodes University (School of Journalism and Media Studies) and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), with the support of several partners, development agencies and sponsors. This year was the 13th edition being hosted in Grahamstown with a record attendance of about 735 persons and offers journalists reflection on 2010 in the New Media environment.
One of the panellists, Paula Fray of the International Press Service IPS, pointed out two issues which she said are holding back development Journalism. The environment in which the journalists operate and the perception that sexy journalism is prestigious than other journalism. She said essential training to orientate the journalists is required, adding that journalism is the only profession which has no compulsory further training once they become journalists. She presented a solution, which she said there should be annual training for journalists on new things they report on. She believes the inverted pyramid style is skewed towards politicians and what they say.
“I believe the so called development agenda is not a people’s agenda but that of elite and politicians” said Prof Alfred Opubor another panellists of the West African News Media and Development Centre, (Wanad). He added that when it seems to be the people’s agenda, it does not go far and journalism does not accompany it.
According to Prof Opubor, Journalists cannot report development unless they have a profound understanding of issues. He called for a radical change in the way Journalism is taught in Africa. He said young minds can be trained on developmental issues by going to places like; where oil companies have dumped gas and polluted the environment or industrial areas. He said the problem is that best journalists are stuck on political desks to report political news which they consider is sexier. He proposed that they should rather be made to report development because by the time they ask though questions on policy of agriculture then news on agriculture will become interesting.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO