admin
Marytise Vambayi-Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s leading diversified media group, Zimpapers (1980) Limited, yesterday conducted a junior media training workshop at Queen Elizabeth High School in Harare to equip learners with basic knowledge on print, radio and television journalism.
The programme was part of Zimpapers’ corporate social responsibility.
Speaking at the training workshop, the company’s Editorial Executive, Mr William Chikoto, said they had created the Zimpapers Junior Media Club to reach out to young people and give them an opportunity to understand media from a young age.
“As we were young learners, we yearned for an opportunity to get information from professionals. So we thought we were doing a great disservice by not reaching out to young people and giving them an opportunity to understand media from a very young age,” he said.
Zimpapers then came up with an idea to establish the Junior Writers’ Club, which later changed to become the Zimpapers Junior Media Club. The first programme to identify young talent was held in Mutare in March and yesterday’s workshop was the second. The third one will be held in Bulawayo at a date to be advised.
“For Harare you are the pioneers of this junior media club,” said Mr Chikoto.
“What would be happening is that you have programmes that you are running in your schools; the first thing is we are committing to work and walk with you for a long time. We will be available to help you to produce high quality content for yourselves.”
Mr Chikoto said Zimpapers will open up its radio and television studios and print newsrooms to facilitate learning by young people.
“If you want articles to be published in these national papers, write that article and submit to the headmasters and if they are happy, there will be a platform to also publish your work.
“We have done this before with The Sunday Mail. We used to have a paper called the Bridge. It was a newspaper for school children, learners and their teachers as well.
“So they will be writing articles for themselves, and Queen Elizabeth was one of the schools that participated in that programme,” he said. Mr Chikoto urged the learners to use the opportunity to grow and said Zimpapers would provide scholarships to those who would want to pursue journalism once they complete their secondary education.
Online Reporter