Africa Media Initiative (AMI) in collaboration with the World Bank Group (as funding partners) organized a four days interactive training workshop for media practioners in Africa on issues relating to urbanization in the continent, and the role of journalist in addressing those issues.
The workshop attracted seventy four (74) journalists from both print and electronic from forty two (42) African states who converged at the Peacock Hotel in the city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from the 30th May to 2nd June 2017.
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| Data Analyst, Mr. Muchiri during explaining the importance of data in journalism |
Mr. Eric Chinje (CEO of AMI) in his opening and welcome remarks categorically stated that Africans are still slaves in the global economy since independence, simply because, Africans are not involved in the transportation and sale of their commodities in the world market. He was of the opinion that Africa will not change fundamentally without the involvement of the media, and that if Africa should develop the media should play a key role to as raising the game. While he was at the same time optimistic that positive result would be achieved if the media becomes more relevant to issues affecting the continent are those that relate to urbanization.
He was of the view that life would be impacted if the issue of urbanization is properly taken care of. “Our primary challenge as journalists therefore is to get the continent developed and the end goal is not only to hold government to account but make sure that the money that is provided to develop the country is properly used for the purpose and enforce accountability”. The CEO of AMI observed that no society changes without a capable media, but that notwithstanding, he lamented over the poor reportage on development issues in Africa which he said was way below an average of 10%.
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| CEO of AMI, Eric Chinje (center) and World Bank Specialist, Kofi (right), during the video conference |
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Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
