… While engaging with local media and government communication officers
STORIES BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE- Journalists will be awarded for their mandate write to influence!
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, today informed editors, managers of media houses and Eswatini Government communications officers that the 2023 SADC Media Awards have been officially launched.
They informed the above media personnel during virtual engagement of SADC media coordinators and managers and editors of public and community TV, radio and print media.
The engagement was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Conference Room at the Inter-Ministerial Offices in Mbabane this morning and leading the conversation was SADC Secretariat Innocent Mbuvundula.
The awards with have categories in photography, television, print and radio journalism. The SADC Media Awards are open to journalists from the SADC Member States, including Eswatini.
The first prize winners will receive their prizes and certificates on the margins of the 43rd SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The SADC Media Awards were established in 1996 to recognise best media work in disseminating information on SADC to support the process of regional co-operation and integration in the region. The first prize winner in each category receives US$2 500 (E46 207) and the runner-up receives US$1000 (E18 482.80).
No liSwati journalist won in last year’s awards.
SADC Communications and Public Relations Officer at SADC Secretariat Peter Mabaka advised interested journalists to obtain more information and entry forms from the SADC National Media Coordinators (SNMCs) in their Member States or SADC Website on this link (www.sadc.int). The list of SNMCs can be found on https://www.sadc.int/media-centre/media-contacts/.
“Completed forms, with all required information typed-in must be submitted to the SNMCs within Member States by February, 28 2023,” he said.
Enquiries can be sent to email blopi@sadc.int or imbvundula@sadc.int or telephone +267 395 1863.
“WHAT DO JOURNALISTS NEED TO MEET THE SADC AGENDA IN REPORTING?”- SADC SECRETARIAT
MBABANE- Unity for progress!
During the virtual meeting with SADC National Media Coordinators, editors and media managers were requested to come up with ideas which would encourage reporting that would contribute in achieving the SADC Agenda.
The media personnel- led by Eswatini Financial Times Managing Editor (ME) Alec Lushaba, after a lengthy discussion, suggested means which would channel journalists into required reporting on matter regarding the development of the SADC Region.
“One of the ways which would greatly improve the reporting of journalists with regards to SADC matters would be the integration of journalists in your seminars. This would make them more quipped to report factually and with meaning.
“Also, another thing that would enhance our reporting would be to have exchange programmes, so we can know how our sister countries operate in the newsrooms,” said Lushaba, among other suggestions.
