Online Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has urged the media industry to adjust to the evolving technology landscape that has changed the old ways of information dissemination in order for the industry to remain vibrant.
Speaking at an interactive meeting with editors from both the public and private media, President Mnangangwa said Government values a vibrant media industry hence the need for the industry to keep abreast with the changing technology landscape.
“I am acutely aware that your industry is having to survive in a very complex and challenging environment where many things have to change,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said there was a seismic shift in reader, viewer and listener interest and behavior much of it caused, motivated or aided by giant technological changes and possibilities.
“The old media is dead and with it, old modes, models and ways of doing your craft. We feel the impact and repercussions of these changes of technologies even in our own sphere of Government which is supposed to be stable and traditionally change averse,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said Government was keen to share with the media industry their challenges and explore how it could assist to survive the headwinds of the global change.
He said the vibrancy of the media industry is underwritten by viability of the media industry as individual businesses.
It is a fact that the media industry is facing serious viability challenges hence many companies are struggling to even pay salaries.
There are reports of some media houses contemplating reducing journalists’ working hours to just two weeks a month which means journalists working for such companies will be paid half of what they are getting now. There is therefore an urgent need for Government bailout if the country is to continue enjoying a vibrant media industry.
What is comforting is that the Government is aware of the media industry’s challenges and what is even encouraging is that President Mnangagwa said Government is keen to share with the media industry their challenges and explore how it could assist the industry to survive the headwinds of the global change.
He however challenged the media to be well-informed as they interpret the society and developments, particularly in proffering directional insights on the political trajectory.
derick.khumalo