VMCZ conducts specialised reporting training for journalists

Patience Muchemwa

Senior Reporter

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe last week Thursday conducted a specialised training session on court reporting and investigative journalism for journalists from various media outlets in Harare.

This initiative aimed to address ongoing challenges in media coverage of court cases, as reflected in complaints received by the council throughout 2023 and early 2024.

In an interview, Head of Programmes at VMCZ, Caroline Kuhudzai highlighted that the session was organizlsed due to a surge in complaints concerning inaccurate or incomplete court reporting.

"We focus on capacity building as part of our work," she explained. We hope this training will lead to significant improvements in court reporting."

The VMCZ remains committed to strengthening the skills of media professionals through educational initiatives, all while promoting ethical standards and professionalism across Zimbabwe’s journalism sector.

During the training session, several industry experts shared their knowledge.

Zimfact executive director, Chris Chinaka opened the event with a comprehensive overview of the most frequent media complaints, establishing the context for the training. He emphasised the need for media outlets to address these issues proactively.

LChris Mhike, an experienced lawyer and journalist, focused on the technical aspects of court reporting, offering practical advice and strategies to help journalists navigate complex legal proceedings and produce accurate reports.

VMCZ executive director, Loughty Dube stressed the role of ethical journalism in court reporting, urging media practitioners to maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism when covering sensitive legal matters.

The VMCZ’s continued efforts in organizing such training sessions are pivotal in fostering a responsible and trustworthy media landscape in Zimbabwe.