Most of Rwandan Media outlets and journalists especially small and medium ones have been facing financial challenges and this condition delays their development when you compare to other investors in the country, yet the media are also part of the private sector that needs to make money.
Recently, the private sector federation (PSF) with the Media High Council (MHC) organized discussions with local media practitioners and recalled to create associations so that the private sector invests in their businesses.
However, the call for journalists and media houses’ unity has been a requisite by the government since a couple of years back. Media managers used to get this feedback all the times they ask for financial support.
Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo, the Executive Secretary of MHC said that the discussions aimed at assessing the role of the media in supporting the private sector and the country in general.
He said that it requires that media has capacity based on the skills and professionalism in reporting information and having the essence of ownership for them to participate in the development of the private sector and the country in general.
The second requisite as Mbungiramihigo mentioned is that journalists should have financial capacity to be able to perform their work; and third is that is requesting journalists to work together instead of working in a scattered manner.
“Those who work for Television and Radios must create one space gathering them together, the same for online media outlets and after that they have to make projects that are attractive to partners who are ready to support, they can help them in terms of building capacity and financially by investing a certain budget so that media serve Rwandans with needed capacity. But to get the support media themselves are required to be at a certain level, so, we will assess if this partnership of PSF and the media is possible and we will decide accordingly.” He said.
“You know that the private sector has different businesses they support, the media has also investors who need the returns as business Practitioners and they need to have a role in working with the private sector and get the support from business people.” He added.
He said that being together will help journalists more following the vision of the country.
“Current media practitioners we have are skilled enough in covering, making and disseminating information of current national life has been improved, but journalists need to be fully skilled enough to report the information that is based on finance and economic development which are key priorities of the private sector. The partnership with the private sector with media associations that will be created is a sustainable solution in helping the media especially for those who use to report on business, finance and economic development.” He said.
Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo, the Executive Secretary of Media High council photo Mike
“We want media to create several associations in accordance with specific editorial desks such as business desks, health, education, and when 100 people are making a project together it is easy to get support than if they were two or three. The collected efforts in skills, finance and everything gives a significant return than individual work.” Mbungiramihigo noted.
Callixte Kanamugire, in charge of advocacy in the Private Sector Federation (PSF) said that the private sector supports a journalist through enabling him/her get information he/she needs and advocating for a journalist when he/she face challenges.
He said that the private sector has started IMANZI BUSINESS INSTITUTE which is a training institution that will support new entrepreneurs and other investors who need to train their staff in increasing the skills capacity, as well as in corporate management or corporate governance.
“An individual person cannot succeed in project management, we want to help them distinguish things and share tasks so that they also employ young graduates.” He said.
The initiative is in line with promoting made in Rwanda where people are required to be together to make mass production and quality assured according to Kanamugire.
He warns business people to avoid imported frauds and substandard products in their everyday activities.
“There will be possible changes in selling made in Rwanda products comparing to current status. People were using them without media highlights and now the media will foster communication in advertising made in Rwanda Products.” He added.
The Express News
