Produce more accurate and informative content, Journalists urged
By Ivan Naijuka
On 11 July 2024 during the July Mission, the Mission department in conjunction with Communication and Media Department, organized a media engagement meeting where media personalities; Journalists, Editors, Communications and Public relations people gathered at the Cathedral for prayers.
Under the theme, ‘Positioned as Heralds of the Gospel’ derived from (Isaiah 52:7), the facilitator Rev Peter Oyugi challenged these media people on how media can become a premier tool in nation building.
Rev. Oyugi also highlighted on the impact of responsible journalism in the development path of any nation. Quoting 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity and Colossians 3:24 ” Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward, Peter encouraged them to work with excellence and integrity since they are Gods virtues.
Peter also expressed concerns around the thriving of negative stories in relation to good ones, which is holding back the takeoff of most African countries.
Rev. Oyugi emphasized 5Is, as key proponents for a thriving media practitioner;
1. INFLUENCE: That journalism practiced should have a positive impact on society.
2. INDUSTRY: That a journalist should be a hardworking one to unearth credible information.
3. IDENTIFICATION: That there should be a product you are promoting or advocating for.
4. INTEGRITY: That in all a journalist does, should not divert from the ethical principles of information dissemination.
5. INFORMATION: That as journalists, they are meant to inform in the first place, it should be done with passion and in an ethical way.
He went on to appeal to journalists to mind their work with prayer guidance. He cited a number of scriptures like Colossians 3:24, Isaiah 52:7, 1 Peter 2:9 and many others where journalists can always draw inspiration while executing their duties.
Peter appealed to journalists to seek truth of matters they are intending to report on as this will give them credibility. He likened this to stories crafted by the colonialists on the future of Africa which many have believed in yet in actual sense it was meant to blind Africans. “I want to give the example of the African story where whites come and discover physical features—that’s colonial ideology which is not paid attention to
and it has killed our African story,” he stated.
At the opening of the engagement, the Provost, Rev. Canon Rebecca Nyegenye recognized that, ‘journalists are an essential resource cutting across the church and populous as they enjoy what they produce, therefore engaging with them is essential to support their efforts in producing more accurate and informative content.
The president of the Church of Uganda Media Association (CHOUMA) Mr. Zambali Bulasio Mukasa expressed concerns about the lack of attention from church leaders towards journalists.
“We try to come near the church, however, the church leaders are not paying attention to us, which has led to disunity among Christian journalists and limits their ability to register the association,” he noted.
The event, gathered about 100 participants, aimed at exploring how the church can work effectively with the media to spread the gospel and engage in reporting on marginalized voices.