Female journalists from various media outlets in the Northern Region have undergone a training workshop focusing on digital literacy and online safety.
Organized by the Media Council of Malawi, the workshop aimed to enhance essential digital skills among female media professionals, while equipping them with the necessary tools to navigate the digital space safely and confidently. It also aimed to address and reduce online gender-based violence, ultimately contributing to a safer and more inclusive online environment for all.
MCM Executive Director Moses Kaufa provided participants with an overview of digital journalism, highlighting its evolution and the growing importance of digital skills for today’s journalists. He emphasized the critical role of digital platforms in enabling media professionals to engage more effectively with audiences through comments, shares, and feedback.
Kaufa also urged participants to uphold ethical standards in the digital space, stressing the need for fact-checking, transparency, respect for privacy, sensitivity in handling delicate topics, and adherence to copyright laws.
“It calls for us to navigate the trajectory and use the platforms effectively. Let us be able to move with technology,” he said.
The facilitator, who is founder and editor-in chief for Africa Brief Winstone Mwale shared sentiments with Kaufa, by urging participants to always verify information before publishing it online. He emphasized that doing so helps maintain audience trust and ensures the dissemination of accurate information.
Mwale added that fact checking will help them avoid legal battles and avoid spreading hoaxes. He also shared tips om how female journalists can protect themselves while working on the digital space.
One of the participants, Towera Katswiri, Acting Bureau Chief for Zodiak Broadcasting Station in the Northern Region, hailed MCM for the training saying it will help her effectively deliver her duties as a journalist. She added that the session has reminded them to always be ethical when using digital tools.
“The reminder that has been given to us is going to help us in the way we do our jobs, but at the same time breaking news while maintaining the code of ethics,” she said.
The activity which was held in Mzuzu is part of the UNESCO-funded project, under the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).
