Embrace new media – Scholar tells journalists

  1. Posted on Saturday 13 June 2009 - 12:30
    Daniel
    Image of Daniel
    Daniel Nana Aforo VoicesofAfrica alumnus in Accra, Ghana
    Journalists in Africa can do their best with the use of new media in the 21 century. "Journalism is going through a critical phase of the moment by re-examining themselves on what role they have to play in society" said Prof. Harry Dugmore, Head of MTN Chair of New Media and Mobile Communications at Rhodes University, South Africa.
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    The Professor said this when this reporter asked him about his view of journalism on the continent of Africa. According to him the media and journalism are looking for renaissance in Africa and the role are becoming more important not less with the proliferation of voices with new media.

    “Journalism in Africa is going through critical stage of the moment by thinking about the role to play on the society”. He said with the proliferation of voices, journalism are becoming important and more committed, campaigning and crusading journalism and the role are becoming more important with thousands of new voices everyday.

    When asked about the use of mobile reporting: “Mobile reporting are become stronger and stronger as phones becomes more powerful, as phone becomes smater, and broad band becoming cheaper people can use the phone to generate news from their communities”.

    Summing up, the Head of New Media said the use of new media played important role in the electoral polls of Ghana, South Africa and Malawi and urged other journalists in Africa countries to embrace the use of new media by helping the Elections Commission using new media to tabulate results, give alternative views of the counting of the fairness and freeness of elections.

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