ZESCO Board Chairperson Vickson Ncube has challenged the media in Zambia to be catalysts of national development by effectively covering stories in order to help provide solutions to the country’s challenges.
He says this can be achieved through value chain management in investigative journalism.
ZANIS reports that Mr Ncube has noted that most journalists in the country tend to report on issues without going further to analyse the root-cause of the problem, in order to help contribute to problem solving.
He was speaking in Lusaka when he officially opened the Media Chat room organised by CHARA Media under the theme ‘Media as a Catalyst for Economic Resilience and Growth’.
Mr Ncube added that it is therefore important for the media to carry out extensive research before reporting on a particular issue.
Speaking at the same event, one of the panelists, Chief Executive Officer for Mulundu Holdings David Kombe called on the media to partner with the government and disseminate information in times of disaster such as disease outbreak.
He said the media has the responsibility to contribute to disaster management by disseminating information to the public without demanding incentives.
“It is irresponsible for a media organisation to demand to be paid in order to disseminate information on issues that affect the public such as COVID-19 and cholera. It is not always about money. If people die, are you going to have an audience?” He wondered.
Meanwhile Former Presidential Press Aide Dickson Jere who was also a panelist expressed concern with the level at which the mainstream media in the country is losing its effectiveness to social media.
He observed that the growing influence by untrained citizens disseminating information on social media is detrimental not only to mainstream media but the nation at large.
He noted that stakeholders are developing a preference for social media influencers over trained journalists due to the large audiences they have on digital platforms.
“If the media does not wake up, one day, they will find untrained people have taken up their role because social media influencers have a large following. As mainstream media, you are competing with untrained citizens hence you need to pull up your socks. Update your Social media platforms frequently or you’ll lose your audience. “He urged.
Mr Jere has since advised the media to ensure they embrace social media platforms in order to stay relevant and help curb misinformation.
And Chara Media Chief Executive Officer Chimwemwe Lungu says the agency organised the Media Chat room to provide a space for dialogue on various challenges faced in the country.
She observed that despite having the agenda setting ability to stimulate problem solving conversations around the country’s challenges, the media in Zambia have merely been a conveyor of information from the source to the public.
She expressed hope that the panelists representing the media and corporate world respectively will use the platform to dialogue on solutions to the country’s economic growth.
