Malawi: Minister pleads with media to simplify economic issues

“This will enable the country's masses to understand and make informed trade and financial decisions,” said Dr. Lipenga, when he opened a two-day induction workshop for economic and business journalists over the weekend.

The workshop, organised by the Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA) in collaboration with the newly formed Association of Business Journalists (ABJ) attracted 25 journalists from both the print and electronic media outlets.

“The economy is complex and there is need for the media to help people understand prevailing opportunities and challenges,” he said.

Dr. Lipenga observed that although business and economic journalists have been compelled to dwell on complex social economic issues like public finance, health infrastructure, agriculture and food security, commerce and trade it is regrettable that the all these are pursued without the underlying analytical techniques.

“My ministry will therefore ensure sustainability of economic trainings to generate a specialised cadre of journalists capable of effectively discharging their public responsibility,” said Dr. Lipenga who is himself a former journalist.

“Business journalists are a significant group because they report on issues that are crucial and at the heart of everyone's life in society including the financial systems and development activities of the country,” he added.

He said as the economy world over is undergoing a major transformation there is a need for Malawi's journalists to interpret issues.

“We have terms such as world food price crisis, high fuel prices, inflation rate, interest rates and many other terms that need a well-trained journalist to interpret to the man on the street,” he said.

ECAMA President Charles Mataya urged journalists to appreciate the business sector and national economy by coming up with stories that are research-based.

“The training will upgrade journalists on the basic principles of economics,” said Mataya who is also principal of the University of Malawi's constituent college of Polytechnic.