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Bunge to train journalists on parliamentary reporting
2007-06-02 10:14:57
By Lusekelo Philemon, Bagamoyo
The Parliament has prepared a five-year special training programme for media practitioners that will equip them with special skills and techniques on parliamentary reporting.
Opening a two-day seminar on the relationship between the Parliament, media houses and the public, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Samwel Sitta said parliamentary proceedings needed objective reporters who are well equipped with knowledge and skills on the subject.
``That is why my office has planned to have a five-year special training programme that will run from 2007 to 2011. This programme will be conducted within either or outside the country,`` he said in Bagamoyo yesterday.
Sitta said: ``The Parliament understands the role played by the media in disseminating information to the public.
We believe that if we can empower journalists on these special training, they will do their jobs easily and give out accurate information related to parliamentary proceedings.``
He said the offer will help media practitioners to open up their understanding on various issues relating to the House. ``We still believe that good parliamentary newsmen/women are not born but they are made.
This is what we want to do,`` he noted. He clarified that the opportunity would help to strengthen the relationship between the media and the Parliament and hence improve service delivery to the public.
He further explained that misunderstanding of the two bodies media and legislature would have the negative effect to the people as they will not get information, which is their constitutional right.
Sitta noted that, the two are complementing each other hence the need to work together for the country`s socio-economic development.
``The relationship of these two institutions with one another is very important, hence we, as legislators, and media stakeholders responsible to strengthen this relationship for the benefit of the public,`` he added.
A veteran journalist, Jenerali Ulimwengu urged media people to have special knowledge on how they can report objectively on issues that impact the society.
``Reporters in this area must be very conversant with skills related to parliamentary reporting for them to perform their duties thoroughly and accurately,`` Ulimwengu told media owners, editors, reporters and Members of Parliament.
Media Owners` Association of Tanzania (MOAT) Chairman Reginald Mengi commended the move to have media practitioners trained further, saying it would help them perform their duties smoothly.
He said there was urgent need for the media and the parliament to work as a team so as to deliver the best to the public.
George Mlawa, former Clerk of the National Assembly reminded media practitioners reporting parliamentary proceedings to observe rules and regulations of the Parliament.
``Let us observe rules governing the Parliament so that at the end of the day you report objectively and hence give the public what it is supposed to get,`` he said.
Participants of the seminar from different media houses called on the Parliament to improve the infrastructure in the new Bunge building.
They said the new building is unfriendly to parliamentary reporters as it lacks necessary facilities and make the task of delivering their services difficult.
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