Good journalism key to addressing economic crisis, Zambian President tells Commonwealth media

Zambian President Rupiah Banda has said ethical and professional economics journalism is key to providing credible information about options available to citizens affected by the current economic crisis.

Speaking to 23 editors from 17 Commonwealth countries at State House in Lusaka, Zambia, on 24 February 2009, Mr Banda said that good financial journalism was needed now, more than ever before.

The journalists have been attending a three-day training workshop on reporting globalisation, trade and international finance.

“I am glad the Commonwealth Secretariat has taken the initiative to train journalists on reporting financial and economic issues. I commend you for this initiative which has been long overdue,” the President said.

Mr Banda was hopeful that the editors would interpret various aspects of the global economics crisis, which has led to collapse of businesses and loss of jobs, so that the people can fully understand it.

“In these times, we need a cadre of well trained journalists who will communicate to the people what the ongoing financial and economic crisis means to them. I urge you to be issue-based in your reporting,” he added.

Mr Banda said that it is important for the journalists to adhere to professional ethics and to enhance self-regulation for them to win public opinion.

“I am a true believer of a free press. For our fundamental democracies to thrive, we need a free press.”

Introducing the editors to the President, Commonwealth Secretariat Deputy Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu briefed Mr Banda about the current activities the organisation is involved in, including reform of international institutions, the work of the Commonwealth Youth Programme in Africa whose centre is at the University of Zambia, trade facilitation, the Hub and Spokes programme, and climate change.

He also told President Banda about preparations to mark the 60th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth in April this year, and said the workshop was organised as an outreach activity in line with the theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day: thecommonwealth@60: serving a new generation.

Professor Nixon Kariithi, a distinguished scholar and author on economics journalism who led the training, said economics journalism is finally gaining recognition as the mainstay of African media.

“There is little doubt around the world, and in Africa, that economics journalism needs to be taken seriously by all media,” he said. “A media house without a major strategy on how to report the economy would be failing in its duties to serve its society.”

Professor Kariithi challenged African journalists to broaden coverage of the financial crisis to include its impact on the continent’s poor. “They matter because they are worst affected; our coverage is incomplete without reflections on their lives.”

As part of the Secretariat’s Communications and Public Affairs Division outreach initiative, the editors visited the Department of Mass Communications at the University of Zambia for a public dialogue where they addressed students on what it takes to make a career in journalism. They also joined a briefing for Zambian media convened by the Lusaka Press Club.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: Zambia