Misa Malawi dares media on investigative journalism
Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter has challenged journalists in the country to deepen their skills in investigative reporting to effectively hold public officers accountable over resources and conduct.
Misa Malawi chairperson Teresa Ndanga said this yesterday when the local media fraternity joined the international community in commemorating World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3.
She said her organisation has introduced an investigative journalism training to reflect the emphasis the media need to sharpen their skills to probe issues for the public good.
Freedom Day in Lilongwe
Said Ndanga: “We need to improve our skills, especially in line with keeping public officials accountable. The IJ [investigative journalism] conference will, therefore, help us to learn and share new skills which we can especially use as we go towards the general elections next year.
“This is a critical time when we need such skills. We need to scrutinise those vying for public offices and hold them accountable to what they say or did in the past; this will greatly help voters to make informed choices about such potential leaders.”
The IJ workshop at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre this afternoon will attract 30 media workers from across the country.
Earlier today, Misa Malawi and other officials will bang heads at the same hotel on how to revive the Media Council of Malawi which has had financial challenges.
Tomorrow, the journalists’ celebrations will reach a climax with the annual Press Freedom March from Kamuzu Stadium upper ground to Malawi Sun Hotel. In the evening, there will be the annual gala dinner and awards at Sunbird Mount Soche.
Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi has told reporters that Malawi’s media freedom needs to be protected through professionalism and understanding on both the media practitioners and the government.
The celebrations coincide with an announcement that Malawi is now ranked on position 64 this year, improving from position 70 last year, according to media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF). n
