By Burnett Munthali
Zambian Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Lewis Mwape has urged journalists to focus on stories that transform lives by putting people at the centre of reporting.
Mwape made the remarks in Chipata during an interaction that brought together journalists from Malawi and Zambia on an exchange visit aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration and improving the quality of rights-based journalism.
He urged journalists to reconnect with documents and avoid writing stories based on hearsay, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and truth in reporting.
“You are our society’s mirror. Work for the marginalised,” said Mwape, highlighting the critical role journalists play in advocating for the vulnerable.
Mchinji Journalists Union (MJU) interim president Luciano Milala said the visit was aimed at finding ways on how best to share rights-based news stories, ending child marriages and human trafficking, and strengthening capacity to ably report on Constituency Development Fund utilisation with a focus on accountability.
“The exchange visit is helping us to improve collaboration and share experiences on rights-based reporting,” said Milala, underscoring the benefits of cross-border journalism partnerships.
The visit was supported by Girl Activist Youth Organisation and other partners, reflecting the collaborative effort to promote quality journalism and human rights reporting.
The exchange visit has provided a valuable platform for journalists to share experiences and best practices in rights-based reporting.
By focusing on people-centred stories, journalists can contribute to positive change and development in their communities.
