The younger generation will no longer need a pen and paper to report on a story, with cellphones it’s as easy as typing a few words, snapping a few pics and clicking the send button.
The younger generation will no longer need a pen and paper to report on a story, with cellphones it’s as easy as typing a few words, snapping a few pics and clicking the send button.
Learners from different schools in Grahamstown were invited to the Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies last month to learn more about how to experiment with citizen journalism through cellphones.
Sponsored by the Knight Foundation the project was formed after it was discovered that many residents in Grahamstown East had not been participating in public media debates, mostly as a result of socio-economic limitations.
Schools Outreach officer Khayalethu Thonjeni from the Rhodes School of Journalism said that as most people do not have access to computers, cellphones are seen as one way of generating dialogue and debate through basic training in citizen journalism.
Thembekazi Damane, a Grade 10 learner from Ntsika High School sounded excited as she explained that they were told that this project would equip them to learn more about citizen journalism while still at high school.
Citizen journalists in the making
The workshop training consists of the basics of researching information, journalistic principles and how to operate a cellphone in writing different forms of news, as well as cellphone photography.
Over 80 learners have participated in these workshops over the past few months. After the workshop the learners are encouraged to do their work through sponsored airtime and submit their work for the MyMakana School page on Grocott’s Online.
They are then expected to produce at least 10 news SMSes. However some learners have not yet used the services, such as Samuel Akanbi (a Grade 10 learner from Mary Waters).
He explained that he has not yet sent any SMSes and Jabulani Faltein, also a Grade 10 learner from TEM Mrwetyana High School shares the same sentiments.
Extending project
Thonjeni explained that “We would like to extend this training to NGOs and civil society members,” and added that the training will also be extended from not only using cellphones but also using computers and internet and other community members will also be able to participate.
Athenkosi Dyonashe, a Grade 10 learner from Mary Waters said that he would like the workshops to continue, as he is also interested in learning to write short SMSes in isiXhosa.
Some learners are keen on using the lessons learnt and have already been successful in having some of their work published. “I decided to write a short SMS about fashion as I was seeing more unusual outfits,” said Zikhona Radebe, a learner from Mary Waters who expressed that she sent various SMSes during the National Arts Festival and was keen on inviting her friends to take part in this form of journalism.
