Journalism: between the craft and the profession
Who is a journalist? What is journalism? Is every one involved in journalism qualified to be called a journalist? Does online information dissemination qualify a person to be called a journalist? These were some of the burning questions that lifted up the opening session of the Highway Africa 2007 conference on Monday.
At the Eden Grove Red Lecture Theatre, discussants drawn from across the continent were very vocal in pursuing their positions on who should be called a journalist and what journalism was about.
Asked to define what journalism is, Robert Kabushenga of the Uganda's New Vision newspaper said it involved the delivery of stories to the public in a professional way.
According to him, journalism is a profession requiring specific skills to be used to achieve this professional delivery of information to the reading public.
Commenting, Thabo Leshilo of the Sowetan, South Africa, countered this position, saying that rather than an exclusive profession like that of the Medical Doctor, journalism is a craft that could be learnt by people from various backgrounds and used for information dissemination.
This position was strengthened by Charlene Deacon, who said as the Editor-in-Chief, Kaya FM, South Africa; she rose to such a height without being primarily trained as a journalist.
Kabushenga however, countered the impression that just everyone involved in information dissemination, could be called a journalist.
He said, "That I write and speak English does not make me an English teacher."
At this point, Thabo said that he was being misunderstood, explaining that there was a way a person without necessary qualifications could be taught to know how to apply the rules.
At this point, the session anchored by Jeremy Maggs, a presenter with the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, drew a lot of responses from participants with diverse backgrounds but who are involved in journalism practise.
Charles Brooks of the Global News Network, Liberia, asked to know who was a true journalist. Another question raised was whether a Disk Jockey (DJ), who also relates with the public, should be called a journalist.
Kubeshenga stated that it should be clear that entertainers were not journalists and vice versa. He noted that the assumption that journalism is not a profession is one of the problems of the practice today.
He said that quality was being affected by lack of adequate training and professionalism, adding that many African countries by their oppressive laws have also not helped journalism as they have driven away lots of good hands that were practising the profession to the standards in the western world.
This he pointed out had strengthened the media in the West and left Africa weakened.
Eugenie Aw, from CESTI Senegal, highlighted a different challenge to traditional journalism, noting that technology was making it difficult for traditional journalistic values to be maintained.
However, Prof. Guy Berger, Head, School of Journalism at the Rhodes University, said journalism and journalist should never be confused as they are different. He equally noted that journalists who actually do Public Relations, mistake this for journalism.
He highlighted the need for continuous training of journalists, stating that this was the only way to ensure improvement in the quality of work that is given to the public.
At the Eden Grove Red Lecture Theatre, discussants drawn from across the continent were very vocal in pursuing their positions on who should be called a journalist and what journalism was about.
Asked to define what journalism is, Robert Kabushenga of the Uganda's New Vision newspaper said it involved the delivery of stories to the public in a professional way.
According to him, journalism is a profession requiring specific skills to be used to achieve this professional delivery of information to the reading public.
Commenting, Thabo Leshilo of the Sowetan, South Africa, countered this position, saying that rather than an exclusive profession like that of the Medical Doctor, journalism is a craft that could be learnt by people from various backgrounds and used for information dissemination.
This position was strengthened by Charlene Deacon, who said as the Editor-in-Chief, Kaya FM, South Africa; she rose to such a height without being primarily trained as a journalist.
Kabushenga however, countered the impression that just everyone involved in information dissemination, could be called a journalist.
He said, "That I write and speak English does not make me an English teacher."
At this point, Thabo said that he was being misunderstood, explaining that there was a way a person without necessary qualifications could be taught to know how to apply the rules.
At this point, the session anchored by Jeremy Maggs, a presenter with the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, drew a lot of responses from participants with diverse backgrounds but who are involved in journalism practise.
Charles Brooks of the Global News Network, Liberia, asked to know who was a true journalist. Another question raised was whether a Disk Jockey (DJ), who also relates with the public, should be called a journalist.
Kubeshenga stated that it should be clear that entertainers were not journalists and vice versa. He noted that the assumption that journalism is not a profession is one of the problems of the practice today.
He said that quality was being affected by lack of adequate training and professionalism, adding that many African countries by their oppressive laws have also not helped journalism as they have driven away lots of good hands that were practising the profession to the standards in the western world.
This he pointed out had strengthened the media in the West and left Africa weakened.
Eugenie Aw, from CESTI Senegal, highlighted a different challenge to traditional journalism, noting that technology was making it difficult for traditional journalistic values to be maintained.
However, Prof. Guy Berger, Head, School of Journalism at the Rhodes University, said journalism and journalist should never be confused as they are different. He equally noted that journalists who actually do Public Relations, mistake this for journalism.
He highlighted the need for continuous training of journalists, stating that this was the only way to ensure improvement in the quality of work that is given to the public.
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