The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) has challenged media practitioners to look beyond basics and research more to give their target audience in-depth content that is accurate, fair and balanced.

BY TAFADZWA TSEISI

This comes amid concerns that some of the stories published in mainstream media  fail to give their readers cutting edge stories.

Speaking at a four day VMCZ in-house training workshop on investigative journalism held with Zimbabwe Newspapers (Bulawayo branch) recently, veteran Journalist and local trainer Mkhululi Sibanda said journalists should think out of the box  in order  to come up with unique story ideas.

“The current crop of journalists is not outgoing and daring. We need investigative stories that people are always going to challenge and for this to happen journalists should be at the right place and at the right time,” Sibanda said.

Sibanda also said journalists should always stick to their story.

“Emotions can kill a good story and as a journalist, one should not be side-tracked by side issues, one should stick to his or her story,” he said.

The facilitator’s utterances can be related to findings from one of VMCZ’s publications, the Media Complaints Analysis Report which indicates how Section four of the code of conduct on accuracy and fairness has been breached frequently by media practitioners in Zimbabwe.

Sibanda also urged journalists to scrutinize tip offs and leakages as they  may be misleading.

Participants also took part in group activities that covered best practice for journalists, characteristics of investigative journalism, information gathering techniques and the use of digital devices as a tool in investigative journalism.

VMCZ Executive Director Loughty Dube said  Journalists should be ethical at all times and stop concocting sources.

“The majority of stories lack research as most journalists are in a hurry to get their stories published. Not only does this produce half baked stories but it tempts one to concoct  sources which is  unethical,” he said.

Dube also said it is important for journalists to be concerned about the digital disruption which calls for multi-media story telling.

“A smart-phone is an important gadget for a journalist and as we progress with the digital times, our media practitioners should make use of tools at their disposal to produce content that include video, audio and pictures,” he said.

Dube also urged journalists to improve their interviewing skills.

“A lot of good stories have gone down the drain because journalists lack requisite skills to interview a source, be it a Minister or an ordinary citizen.

“Instead of rushing to ask questions that might kill their story, Journalists should be smart and plan for interviews,” he said.

One of the workshop recommendations was to come up with an investigative desk in every newsroom.

The workshop was attended by Sunday News, The Chronicle, uMthunywa and B-Metro reporters.

 

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