Learning is a Continuous Process

 

 

Five days of internet for editor training (January 30-February 3) proved learning is a continuous process. It enhanced my knowledge on the use and potentiality of internet for journalists.  Some key lessons drawn from the training includes:

·         Smart internet search by internet search tools, i.e. my favorites' for record and storage of relevant information  

·         Useful websites for journalistic and personal use  .i.e. Project Gutenberg , African literature and writers on the internet, Hello in Many Language, African Election Data Base to mention a few

·         Developed my own blog which am determined to keep alive
 The training gave more than I expected, thanks to a well packaged program and skilled facilitators.  Lively participation between participants and facilitators as well as participants to participants made the training enjoyable and easy to follow

 

 

Foreign Aid Bad for Africa

Several decades after independence most Africans still live in deplorable condition. Tanzania is no exceptional, in her 50th anniversary of independence is among the poorest countries. Why Africa has remain in such state despite its abundant natural resources; minerals, good land, forest, natural gas but to mention a few 

Developed countries spent millions for direct foreign aid to Africa. It’s estimated that more than 1 trillion US dollars have been spent in last fifty years. Consequently,  it doesn't come as a surprise, that there those who oppose and  foreign aids in perception that they cause harm than good to the continent.

Specifically, Dr. Dambisa Moyo argue that foreign aid play a significant role in hindering development in Africa. In her 2009 book "Dead Aid; Why is Not Working and How There is Another Way for Africa", the international economist, wrote foreign aid “fostered dependency, encourage corruption eventual perpetuated poor governance and poverty”.

In other words, she believes Africa true development can be realized from within, focusing on good use of local resources.

Moyo’s argument is supported by Tanzania political scientist, Prof. Mwesiga  Baregu, who once likened African government development policies to shopping lists. The St. Augustine University of Tanzania Professor argued that no matter how good development policies may be, the implementation largely depend on foreign assistance.

Definitely African wellbeing is largely placed into donors who in return dictate what the former should and shouldn’t do regardless of its impacts. Introduction of Structure Adjustments Programs in Tanzania in 1980’s is a typical example. The program is blamed for weakened  public services following an introduction of cost sharing policy to education, health, water and other basic services previously subsided by the state.

Convincingly, enormous foreign aids to Africa have failed to improve economic status of most African countries instead perpetuated dependency as donor countries use them to dictate the so called development policies to  Africa  to serve they are own interests 

 

 

 

Newspapers in Digital Era

The development of internet or network of interconnection of physical computers developed 1990’s has completely   transformed the word information and communication. Among others, internet has changed consumer attitudes, expectations and their  news sourcing.  Young generation, in particular in developed countries prefer online news over the traditional newspapers, radio and television.  As it should be expected newspapers circulation as well as advertising revenue has droped. In his speech to American Society of newspaper Editors, Rupert Murdoch, the Us- Australian media Mogul said the challenge of newspaper industry “is to deliver news in way that consumer want to receive it”.  

Pointing out that new generation want news that speaks to them personally, that affects their lives and that they want to be able to use the information in large community.  Thus the media mogul advised that newspaper website should be refashioned in way that moves from just a "bland that repurposing print content  to a platform that offer compelling and relevant content that includes  local, national, international news but also commentary and humor".  His key message for newspaper editors was for them to change  their focus from what is news to wahat  consumer needs