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Veteran broadcast journalist publishes memoirs
MISA-Zimbabwe
November 12, 2012
The Chairperson
of MISA-Zimbabwe Njabulo Ncube has urged Zimbabwean journalists
to write and publish memoirs on their professional experiences and
the momentous events and policy decisions that influenced the shaping
of the country's socio-economic, political and cultural development.
Ncube was speaking
during a press club debate at the Bulawayo Press Club on 9 November
2012 on the role of journalists in educating and enhancing access
to information through writing their own memoirs.
The press club
debate which was attended by journalists and representatives of
civic society organisations, also coincided with the official commissioning
by MISA-Zimbabwe of: A Nose for News, a compilation of memoirs written
by veteran broadcast journalist, Tapfuma Machakaire.
The memoirs
were published under MISA-Zimbabwe's Journalist-in-Residence
Programme which has since also published A Sort of Life in Journalism
and The Power and the Glory written by veteran journalists Bill
Saidi and Grace Mutandwa, respectively.
"As journalists
you are of course aware that all the information that we gather
does not necessarily find its way into the public sphere either
through radio, television or newspapers.
"Memoirs
therefore serve the purpose of collecting, compiling, refining and
repackaging information and facts that were either lost, censored
or edited out during the production processes of news stories. Call
it (memoir writing) value-adding journalism," said Ncube.
He said the
publication of Machakaire's memoirs, marked the coming of
age of Zimbabwean journalism in that Machakaire becomes the first
Zimbabwean broadcast journalist to publish his own memoirs having
ably followed in the footsteps of veteran print journalists such
as Geoff Nyarota, Saidi and Mutandwa.
Ncube said memoir
writing was a high form of "in-depth-behind-the-scenes story
telling" which serves to empower, educate, inform and enhance
access to information on what happened and what ought to be.
"As journalists
we should therefore be the authoritative chroniclers and writers
of our own history. We should . . . take the lead and be the entry
and reference points for historians.
"The narratives
and experiences of journalists through the writing of memoirs are
critical in fostering media freedom, freedom of expression and access
to information hinged on ethical journalism that is cognisant of
history and its impact on the present and future," said.
Machakaire said
journalists should retain their notebooks and tapes from day one
and also read widely and collect as much information and material
as is possible during the course of their professional work. He
said this helps greatly when it comes to compiling and writing memoirs
for posterity.
"I am
more than convinced that through his memoirs, Machaks (as Machakaire
is otherwise known) takes over and continues from where daily journalism
cannot go by conveying to us certain events in the past with accuracy,
fairness, rich and well researched background."
Veteran journalist
Ray Mawerera who edited the book, describes it as a learning aid
for the journalism student that is not only informative and entertaining,
but one that is of historical and educational value.
"If the
real Zimbabwe story must be told, then the Zimbabwe journalist must
stand up and do the telling," says Mawerera.
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