JOURNALISTS NEED TO FIND THEMSELVES - DR MAXWELL

MBABANE – Having started off as a sub-editor for the Times of Swaziland Sunday, Dr Maxwell Mthembu quickly climbed the success ladder and pursuing his studies in the journalism field.

Over the years, he has positioned himself in a place where he can critically look into the media industry in the country, analysing both training and the actual practice.

Dr Mthembu has worked in print and broadcast media, has been trained both locally and internationally and has, above all, produced dozens of media practitioners as he is a lecturer at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA).

Activity

His interview was prompted by the activity that is currently taking place around the formulation of policies and Acts which have a direct impact on the media sector in the country.

Eswatini News asked his views on how the media industry has evolved over the years.

His main point was that it is high time journalists host an indaba to find themselves.

EN: Tell us a bit on how your journalism career started.

Max: I started off as a sub-editor for the Times of Swaziland SUNDAY and later became a news reporter for the same newspaper. Thereafter, I joined the programmes section of the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service (SBIS).  I also worked for the information department at SBIS, where we produced the government newsletter Swaziland Today. While still at the Times, I was a freelance news reader.

EN: How is the media industry in Eswatini compared to other southern African countries?

Max: Each country has its own challenges with regard to the media. It would be difficult to draw a comparison especially with regard to a free press.  Eswatini’s major challenge is that of fear. The culture of fear is embedded in our newsrooms such that certain stories, even though they are of public interest, are ignored by the media. For instance, the country changed its name in 2018, to Eswatini without a consultative process and approval by the Swazi National Council, the supposedly highest policy and advisory council of the nation. However, the media shied away from setting the agenda on that story. As a result; there is confusion whether the country is Eswatini, eSwatini or ESwatini. This is despite the fact that Eswatini is the name that was gazetted. 

Confusion

Such confusion emanates from the fact that the media do not critique such decisions which, in most instances, are not participatory in nature.  

Another case in point is the appalling decision by Parliament to instruct the minister of Finance to secure a loan to construct a new building to House Parliament in the face of poverty. It is the mass media that should be making a deafening noise. The media is a watchdog not a lapdog.  Are the new Houses or Parliament going to reduce unemployment, provide scholarships for tertiary students, secure medication for the country’s public health facilities? Absolutely not! The media should be asking these questions.

The fact that some in the media want to look good in the eyes of those in the higher echelons of emaSwati society makes it difficult for them (mass media) to give a voice to the voiceless and set the agenda on fundamental issues affecting this country. 

EN: For ages, there hasn’t been much growth/expansion of media houses in the country, what could be the challenge?

Max: There are numerous factors that have impeded the growth of the media industry in the country. In the broadcasting sector, the regulatory framework in the past has been prohibitive even though there have been radio stations such as John Ansell’s Radio Mbabane, the British Army’s Tiger Radio, and Mark Woodlinger’s Swazi Music Radio. The fact that such powers were vested in the CEO at SPTC (now EPTC) was a challenge.  SPTC could not issue licences independently without consulting with the minister responsible for broadcasting.  The minister would need to get a green light from Cabinet. The granting of licences, therefore, would not have been possible because in this country there is control on what should be discussed in the public sphere.  We hope that the autonomous incumbent regulator will come to the party and award licences to prospective radio and television stations. Eswatini is the only country in the SADC region that is yet to liberalise the airwaves. 

Regarding newspapers, the growth has been hampered by minimal advertising from businesses in new newspaper titles. Advertisers are always sceptical of new entrants in the newspaper space.  The lack of affordable printing facilities, challenges in distribution and inconsistency in publishing are some of the factors hampering growth of newspapers. The newspaper business is capital intensive and most proprietors fund their publications from their pockets, which is unsustainable. 

EN: Most journalism students prefer broadcast media as opposed to print media. Is there a particular reason for that?

In fact, most students in our programme prefer to specialise in public relations and advertising.  There are a few who specialise in broadcasting (radio and television) and they indeed do shun the print major.  I assume it is all about the glitz and glamour of  the corporate projects to their publics hence the general belief among Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) students to choose PR and shun journalism. Students are aware of the unsavoury treatment of journalists in the newsrooms (newspapers) in the hands of editors as well as the poor salaries for cub reporters. This dissuades students from majoring in the print courses. In fact, there are a few students who are likely to graduate in 2021 who are majoring in print journalism. This will be a first since the JMC degree programme was introduced in 2010 at the University of Eswatini. 

EN: Which three key areas do you think need urgent attention when it comes to journalism training and practice in Eswatini?

Max: Journalism is a practical oriented programme. Without investment in the requisite equipment it becomes difficult to produce quality journalists. There is also the challenge of not having a students’ newspaper which would assist honing the skills of prospective journalists to get to grips with the craft even before entering the job market.  Regarding practising journalists, it is high time that they have an indaba to find themselves. The journalism profession has gone to the dogs. Trust has been eroded in the newsrooms. The revelations of how some journalists are bedfellows with business, politicians and some powerful citizens send shivers down the spine. The profession should rid itself of the rotten apples, if it is to remain noble. 

EN: What’s your take on the CyberCrime Bill? 

Max: There is a lot of criminal activity taking place online and this needs policing so that culprits are brought to book. However, the Bill is overarching to include the work of the media, in particular journalists, and herein lies the problem.  For instance, regarding fake news; the Bill is unclear as to whether it is making reference to disinformation (purposeful deception) or misinformation (giving inaccurate information not deliberately, but by mistake). There is also the issue of propaganda, which government has used extensively over the years to deceive unsuspecting members of the public. Will Cabinet ministers and government officials be liable for deception through the use of propaganda which is fake news?

Another major challenge is the culture of secrecy. There is news that has all the facts but just because no one wants to comment on that story because it involves those in authority, once published in an online publication, for instance, it could result in the conviction of journalists (including citizen journalists) for disseminating news that is factual but regarded as fake by the state.   

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