Mining Mirror: Zambian newspaper supported by UNESCO
24-07-2007 (Harare)
Trainees at one of the workshop
sessions
© Pat Mwase
UNESCO provided a grant of US$20,000 to support the Zambian private newspaper, Mining Mirror. Spread over a period of two years, this contribution aims to help the newspaper build capacity of its staff and improve the quality of published materials.
The newspaper overall goal is to become a leading news service on mining and other related issues in Zambia, offering the cutting edge information on the latest developments concerning the community and the mining sector. It also has an objective to provide the community with a platform for democratic debate on such issues as local governance, fight against HIV/AIDS and gender inequalities.
The Mining Mirror management sees its mission in publishing a commercially stable newspaper, which would serve the community interests by delivering appropriate information and analytical content.
UNESCO's grant enabled the Mining Mirror to develop an innovative programme running over two years. Initially a two-week intensive workshop was organized. Lectures were given by specialists in community disciplines and journalism from South Africa, Zambia and UNESCO. During the following eleven months the newspaper staff was trained by experienced in-house editors and reporters. At the end of this period, another two-week programme took place to evaluate the skills acquired by the trainees.
The training proved to be very useful, as it enabled the journalists to immediately apply the new skills to their assignments. The use of in-house trainers allowed the senior staff to mentor new recruits and to transmit to them the spirit of a community newspaper.
The Mining Mirror management sees its mission in publishing a commercially stable newspaper, which would serve the community interests by delivering appropriate information and analytical content.
UNESCO's grant enabled the Mining Mirror to develop an innovative programme running over two years. Initially a two-week intensive workshop was organized. Lectures were given by specialists in community disciplines and journalism from South Africa, Zambia and UNESCO. During the following eleven months the newspaper staff was trained by experienced in-house editors and reporters. At the end of this period, another two-week programme took place to evaluate the skills acquired by the trainees.
The training proved to be very useful, as it enabled the journalists to immediately apply the new skills to their assignments. The use of in-house trainers allowed the senior staff to mentor new recruits and to transmit to them the spirit of a community newspaper.
Related themes/countries
· Zambia
· Training of Media Professionals: News Archives 2007
· Community Media: News Archives 2007
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Contact information
-
Contact
- Gervasio Kaliwo, UNESCO Office in Harare
- Pat Mwase, owner, publisher and editor in chief of Mining Mirror
- UNESCO
Source
- UNESCO Office in Harare
Field office