The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Correspondent
YOUNG female journalists have been challenged to cast their nets wide by venturing into different beats to gain expertise and remain relevant in the media industry.
This was said by senior female journalists during a one-day Specialised Beats Training Mentorship Programme held in Harare on Friday.
Training facilitators for the programme, which was organised Friedrich Naumann Foundation, included Victoria Ruzvidzo, Editor of The Sunday Mail, Faith Zaba, The Zimbabwe Independent Editor, veteran photo-journalist Annie Mpalume, Bridget Mananavire — a senior investigations reporter with the News Hawks and Zi-FM Stereo senior reporter, Martha Mamombe.
The journalists received training in covering the business, politics, investigations and photography beats. Ruzvidzo, who has over 20 years’ experience in business reporting, urged the journalists to take up the beat.
“Business and financial reporting is not as difficult as people assume,” she said.
“A reporter should make figures and numbers his or her friend and not something that you are scared of. We have few female business reporters in the industry and after this session, I am hoping to see more ladies taking up the beat and making names for themselves in the industry.”
Mamombe urged those with interest in radio broadcasting to acquaint themselves with broadcasting operating systems and audio-visual softwares.
“Radio is theatre of the ears, therefore you need to give life to what you are saying,” she said.
“The way you speak is not necessarily the way you should sound on air and practice makes perfect.”
Mamombe also spoke about the importance of corporate etiquette and social media presence.
Zaba dispelled the notion that the politics beat was meant for male reporters only.
“From the previous session we conducted with young female journalists, we discovered that most of them were scared to cover politics.
“The reasons being, fear of abuse by politicians, fear for their own lives from politicians and their security details. However, it is not so.
“Though threats can be there at times, it is important for fellow female reporters to write well researched and balanced stories backed by evidence to earn respect in the industry.”
Mpalume urged the young journalists to learn how to use the camera aside from just being good writers.
She called on them to be innovative, daring and bold in order to come up with distinct pictures.
Mananavire emphasised the need to be thorough, comprehensive and accurate when doing investigative pieces to avoid law suits.
Reporters, she said, should remain ethical while conducting investigations.
FNF programmes manager Fungisai Sithole said: “As an organisation we believe in grooming and nurturing young leaders who make an impact in society.
“We desire to see young female journalists occupying key positions in the newsrooms that are male dominated, based on competence.”
She added that the programme was a success and the response from upcoming journalists was overwhelming.
