The Sunday Mail
Cathrine Makwara and Kundayi Sithole L6, Queen Elizabeth High
We are all equipped with the skill of writing but the art of writing to relay information which breaks all barriers that is age, beliefs, intellectual capacity is truly a gift that needs grooming.
From the 10th-14th of April Kundayi Sithole and myself got the privilege to be a part of The Herald news room. Seeing a newspaper online or in the streets is really different from the actual production.
We got to appreciate that there are busy people eager to make sure each Zimbabwean gets information and news on time.
We were in the loving hands of our mentors namely Ellah Mukwati, Elita Chikwati, Ranga Matanhire and Paidamoyo Chipunza to mention but a few who made us see reality from the start.
Being a journalist is not about invasion of privacy or destroying lives as has been stereotyped but rather it’s the skill of use of language to play a vital role in society.
We managed to write an article on the winter wheat season and did three telephone interviews to powerful people in the industry.
Honestly getting an A in English really didn’t mean we were good writers. Our story was edited by more than four people that the original was no longer identical to the final which just proved that the four days where of little use to really learn how to be a journalist.
On our last day we had a very emotional field trip to an accident scene in Greenhood Park where the driver of an ambulance died on the spot. It shed us more light that it requires a strong heart to write on death in detail.
As ladies, we were empowered as we attended The Media Experts Dialogue at Cresta Jameson Hotel. There we socialized with influential media people from all works of life and this broadened our horizon as we also made connections which we hope to use in due course.
The four days were an eye opener, an experience never to be forgotten, each moment vividly remembered. Up to now we reminisce and still laugh at every moment.
If only they could have given us more time.
Our most profound gratitude goes to the School on The Shop Floor program, Dr Rayo the Queen Elizabeth head, our teachers in charge Mrs Chaendera and Mrs Zoraunye, H-Metro Deputy Editor Charles Mushinga, our mentors and above all the Lord Almighty for gracing our experience.
Students, YOU CAN SEND YOUR ARTICLES THROUGH E-MAIL, FACEBOOK, WHATSAPP or TEXT Just app Charles Mushinga on 0772936678 or send your articles, pictures, poetry, art . . . to Charles Mushinga at [email protected] or [email protected] or follow Charles Mushinga on Facebook or @charlesmushinga on Twitter. You can also post articles to The Sunday Mail Bridge, PO Box 396, Harare or call 0772936678.
