ZAMCOM plots ethics course for scribes

By NATION REPORTER THE Zambia Institute of Mass Communication Trust (ZAMCOM) yesterday held a validation meeting with media personnel to design a comprehensive syllabus for an ethics programme which is aimed at enhancing journalists’ adherence to ethics and media practice.

Speaking at the meeting in Lusaka, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting acting permanent secretary Isaac Chipampe said the Ministry would support ZAMCOM as there was need for journalists to be reminded of their role in society.

He said ZAMCOM was only reclaiming its past glory of being a leader in the provision of in service media training in Zambia.

Mr Chipampe said there was need for standards to be set countrywide as citizens’ media had tarnished the principles of journalism.

He said traditional media had become an endangered species due to social media.

Mr Chipampe said journalists in traditional media should however avoid poor work ethics and improve on the quality of reporting.

“Those of you who are in traditional media must ensure that the quality of your work is excellent and you should not concentrate on just politics and the elite, but go and get stories from the ordinary Zambians, “he said.

Mr Chipampe said journalists should practice investigative journalism.

And ZAMCOM Executive Director Oliver Kanene said journalists needed to protect their profession.

He said the syllabuses in most schools of journalism were not tailored to produce and effective graduates.

Mr Kanene said the college decided to engage practicing journalists in coming up with a comprehensive syllabus because they would offer practical challenges that journalism graduates were currently facing in effective practice.