Senior journalists urged to mentor juniors

The call was made by Barbara Kaija, the New Vision editor-in-chief at a media dinner organised by the African Centre for Media Excellence at Metropole Hotel in Kololo recently  

She explained that mentoring does not only lighten the work load of an editor, but also creates an environment that boosts talent in journalists.

Kaija, who said she was mentored by former New Vision editor-in-chief David Sseppuuya, thanked him for recommending her to the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in the US.

"After Poynter Institute, I coached three people and I learnt that I can shine through them," she stated.

Emeka Izeze, Former Managing Director/ Editor in Chief of the Guardian newspaper, Lagos((right) talks to srudents from Uganda Christian University, Mukono at the African Film Project meeting under the 5-day video storytelling course at Protea Hotel. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

Through the institute, senior editors are trained under The Media Project (TMP) so that they in turn can coach their juniors.

Sseppuuya also commended The Media Project for coaching journalists because he said Ugandans lack mentorship and discipleship, which are essential for people to realize their potential.

TMP has taken a step further by going to Uganda Christian University to train Mass Communication students.

Monica Chibita, head of UCU's Mass Communication department, was happy that the students have covered different stories under TMP's tutelage.       

The TMP team comprising Jody Hassett Sanchez, Vishal Arora and Emeka Izeze, coached the students in making short documentaries for one week.

"The difference is that we are not telling them what to do, but showing them in the field because that is what journalism is about," said Sanchez, who believes that the African story is best told by Africans.

She said TMP empowers journalists tell their stories because they know them as opposed to international journalists who jet in and leave after a few days.

TMP is a non-profit network of Christian journalists pursuing professional reporting of all aspects of culture, especially the role of religion in public life.

The New Vision's Gerald Tenywa, who was mentored by Sseppuuya, said he owes all his accolades to his mentors.

"In 2012, I won the CNN Award in environment and I have been nominated this year. These are personal achievements, but they belong to all of us," he said.

Flavia Lanyero , a former  daily  monitor  journalist and now an employee  of World Vision  also commended Ssepuuya for coaching her, which has enabled her become a mentor too.

"To date, I am called by Daily Monitor to mentor."

Sidney Miria, supplements editor at The New Vision, said he owed his success at work to Kaija, his mentor.

"I used to rewrite stories and go home late in the night. Barbara taught me to make a checklist so that the reporters would know what is expected of them, which made my work easy," he remarked.