UPHOLD PROFESSIONALISM, JOURNALISTS ADVISED

A media student at the University of Namibia says journalism is among one of the most lucrative professions despite some of the risks that the profession is faced with.
Moses Magdaza who is a freelance journalist and founding editor of the Southern Times said in an interview that though freedom of expression and the press was at times threatened, the journalism profession still remains viable and highly recognisable.
‘’A journalist’s efforts are always appreciated once ones reporting is objective and truthful in discharging ones duties adding that journalists needed to be impartial in order to maintain a high level of professionalism,’’said Magadza.
He has worked as a journalist for 19years now and is an award winning journalist who has risen through the ranks in the different media organisations that he has worked for has maintained a high level of professionalism in order to avert his freedom of expression being curtailed.
Magdaza said over the years he has focussed on writing developmental issues that affect people such as gender inequality, domestic based violence and environmental issues among others.
He says covering assignments of such a magnitude draws a wider recognition because these are among the major issues that affect society and also draws the attention of the international community.
Magdaza said it is against this background that he has travelled extensively to different parts of the world and has been exposed to a lot of developmental issues that affect not only developing countries but developed countries as well and won awards for such stories.
He cites one of the stories he broke with regard to the outbreak of fish poisoning in Zambia which drew the attention of the authorities to act on, the fish poisoning before peoples lives could be affected.
Magadza shares one of his career achievements so far, when he first won the SADC media award which compelled him to really feel honoured for the contributions he had made adding that he felt he had helped in raising awareness and contributed to enhancing development.
He said in his journalism career he has encountered exciting and sad moments which have been stepping stones to higher heights.
‘’My sad moment has been when authorities take long to comment on an important developmental issue that needs to be written about and while his greatest moment is when he first won the SADC media award,’’said Magdaza.
He has called for active participation of students and media practitioners in transforming the media into a better profession by exercising professionalism in the media organisations that they represent.
Magadza started off his career as a teacher in the late 90s’and then a few years later went on to train at one of the Journalism training colleges in Zimbabwe as a journalist and worked as a senior reporter and then was promoted as editor for the Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe before he moved on to the regional newspaper, the Southern Times where he worked for almost four years. He has won eight awards and he finds the journalism profession a lot more rewarding only if one works hard and upholds professionalism.
He currently writes for various media organisations and is also an International correspondent for the Free Speech Radio International in the United States of America (USA) while pursuing his degree in Media and Sociology at the University of Namibia.