Cultural journalists discuss skills

Some African media professionals met to discuss the essential skills needed to improve their sector in Yaoundé from July 15 to 17.

They deliberated on the situation of cultural journalism in other African countries only to realize that the reality was the same everywhere.

Culture is and remains the least appreciated editorial. Whether in South Africa, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal or Zimbabwe, spaces for art sector are also reduced, in print media, radio and television.

Media professionals from the above mentioned countries met to discuss their experiences at a meeting organized by the Cameroon Art Critics (CAMAC) in partnership with the Goethe Institute.

The stated purpose of this first course of its kind is the creation of a pan-African network of cultural journalists. The assertion, ‘unity is strength’, thus goes beyond the chatter because the journalists gathered to promote the culture of their country through their articles.

For Parfait Tabapsi, president of CAMAC, "we thought we should find a way to be in contact with other African colleagues. We want to create a network, always be together and see what types of projects to consider transnational with the aim of breaking language barriers. These are the main things we should work at.

Our wish is that the individuals we are building today come together to save cultural journalism. This may affect the spaces allocated in the media culture, develop ".

While hoping for better days, cultural journalists rely on digital mediums. Through blogs, online radios and other websites, these men and women interested in culture will pave the way for a breakthrough.

Participants emphasized that while they face difficulties being appreciated, training is another story. Their claims were supported by Jörg Schumacher, Managing communication to the parent of the Goethe Institute in Munich.

How to write an article based on a criticism of a play, a movie or a dance show without prior knowledge? Among various privileges they enjoy, the Goethe Institute provides them with training workshops through its various agencies on the continent. After work on Friday, participants discussed three projects on training and an online platform to simplify the exchange of information.