Counting newsroom gains

By Vincent Phiri, contributor:

It is a Friday morning in the newsroom of The Weekend Times and Malawi News, which are some of the newspapers that will always be synonymous with The Times Group.

The newspapers had, between the late 1990s and early 2000s, embraced news process innovations.

“When we entered this newsroom, we had one typist and we could give her our hand-written stories to type after they had been duly edited by hand.

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“When we talk about editors throwing badly written stories in your face, you can now understand the process,” narrated one of the then sports editors Duncan Mlanjira.

These old folks mentioned names such as those of Clement Stambuli, Ken Lipenga, Aleke Banda and Chinyeke Tembo, people who were in this newsroom during the age of typewriters, a mechanical or electromechanical machine for typing characters.

Typically, a typewriter has an array of keys and each one causes a different single character to be produced on paper by striking an inked ribbon selectively against the paper with a type element.

According to Britannica encyclopedia, at the end of the nineteenth century, the term ‘typewriter’ was also applied to a person who used such a machine, and Mlanjira said that was the job of one Clement Stambuli at Malawi News.

Stambuli later established The Monitor newspaper at the dawn of multiparty democracy.

To these esteemed colleagues— the old guards like Pilirani Kachinziri, Rex Chikoko and Mlanjira— those of us who joined newsrooms in the early 2000s were finding it easy following the coming in of cellular phones, desktop computers and the creation of news websites, which was not the case during their time.

Kachinziri observed that in the pre-digital era, the process of sourcing stories in Malawi’s newsrooms was a labor-intensive and meticulous endeavour.

“Journalists relied on traditional methods of information gathering, notably conducting face-to-face interviews, attending press briefings and scouring through physical archives and documents.

“Furthermore, the old newsroom way of sourcing stories in Malawi involved a strong emphasis on investigative journalism, with journalists delving into complex issues and societal challenges that demanded in-depth research and analysis,” he said.

Other veteran journalists collaborated that the reliance on personal interactions and physical research shaped the authenticity and depth of the stories produced, as scribes invested significant time and effort in building relationships and uncovering hidden narratives within their communities.

The new technology age that was being talked about by these veteran scribes included the establishment of mobile network organisations (MNOs), notably Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) in 1995 and Celtel Malawi in September 1998, before it changed its name to Zain Malawi and, now, Airtel Malawi.

It was a transition from strict reliance on getting in touch with news sources through newsroom ground phones only, besides physical contact, to the usage of mobile phone devices, which were very basic at that time. These were not android or smart phones.

After the 1999 General Elections, there was only one trusted online news platform, Nyasa Times, which was very sensational and carried scandal-related stories.

Facebook or social media influencers were not there. A journalist could stall a very juicy story for days, weeks and months without being captured anywhere.

The lean media environment in the face of old technology presented both challenges and opportunities to journalists in Malawi.

While the limitations of outdated equipment and infrastructure posed significant hurdles, they also fostered a spirit of innovation and adaptability within the newsrooms.

The convergence of passion, purpose and perseverance in the face of technological limitations exemplified the resilience and tenacity of Malawi’s media professionals, laying the foundation for future innovations in the industry.

On the flipside, besides Power 101 being the first privately owned radio station in Malawi, which was more focused on youths and entertainment, after 1997, the country trusted Capital Radio with its independent and reliable news and current affairs content and, for years, these two radio stations occupied this space, which was traditionally dominated by Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).

After the 2004 General elections, the country saw the establishment of other radio stations.

As the world commemorated World Press Freedom Day on May 3 this year, I reflected on the evolution of media and journalism in third world countries such as Malawi and counted the gains made.

The media landscape in third world countries has, over the years, undergone significant transformation, with the advent of new technologies and the proliferation of social media platforms spicing up the scene.

The evolution of the media landscape has witnessed a paradigm shift towards embracing advanced technology, new media platforms and real-time news updates.

This transition has empowered journalists to amplify their voices, engage with diverse audiences and transcend geographical boundaries in disseminating information.

As the media mirrors the transformative trajectory of journalism in Malawi, the world ought to further reflect on the resilience and adaptability of professionals in the face of technological disruptions.

The advent of social media and digital technology, including Android cellular phones, has democratised access to information, fostering a more inclusive and participatory media landscape.

The immediacy and interactivity of the current media environment have redefined the boundaries of storytelling and audience engagement, offering journalists countless tools and platforms for amplifying their narratives and advocate for societal change.

The seamless integration of multimedia content, data visualisation and interactive storytelling has enriched the storytelling experience and captivated audiences and fostered a deeper sense of empathy and understanding.

Therefore, there is a great need to reflect on our traditional journalism academic programmes to ensure that they carry a transformative trajectory to align with needs of the changing world.