IS UGANDA,S MEDIA GETTING IT RIGHT FOR CHILDREN?

Is Uganda’s Media getting it right for the children?

By John Blanshe Musinguzi

8^th November 2013

Makerere University Department of Journalism and Communication’s 13^th annual Media Convention (31^st October to 1^st November) was held under the theme “media for children and the young generation.” The department got it right; Uganda’s population is composed of this generation. About 62% is below 18 years. For two days we brainstormed the theme, discovered the good and bad our media has for children, how and why practicing journalists find it hard to broadcast and write for children.

A number of issues were tackled and recommendations made for what we can do to nurture a better generation.

We need local content for children; Most TV stations in Africa import content for the children and a few like South Africa broadcast locally produced content for kids. When Dr Maya Goetz, a Researcher and Consultant for children and youth programs in Germany asked school children what they like, the response was obvious. Out of about ten children, one child like local content, the rest like cartoons, football, Philippine and Indian movies.

TVs have a powerful influence on the children due to their sight, sound and motion impact. When they watch it, they start thinking and dreaming about what they watch. According to Dr Maya’s research, most children in Uganda at night dream about snakes eating them, running after them, kidnapped, and being grinded, and so on. Kids below the age 3 shouldn’t watch TV for more than three hours a day.

We can give more to our children, their content is not profit generating, and it does not receive the ultimate attention. We the consumer of media content can demand more content for the kids. If so, for example monitor’s Rainbow and New Visions’ Toto Magazines can be printed twice a week.

Media can also let children design their content. They too have tastes and preferences. We can for example have live show debates for kids in TV studios.  Indeed they have a lot of burning issues to discuss.

Parents and guardians need to limit children’s access to social media. Use of social networking sites exposes the young generation to immoral literature especially this mode of communication where most times they don’t know who they are communicating with, so such sites may too expose them to pornographic literature and nude pictures.

Children too are quick learners and do as I say not as I do can’t help them. They learn through action. Moral and political decadence of this regime where many of this regime may not nurture a better generation if responsible and public figures don’t refrain from dirty political games and misuse of public offices.

Journalism trainers have a challenge, they need to train journalists how to report and write for children.  Both Ms Jovita Ajuna (New Vision) and Ms Brenda Banura (Daily Monitor) both editors of children’s Magazines weren’t trained how to write for children but they have tried their best.

Both media and parents can work hand in hand to mold a better generation that will transform Uganda politically, economically and socially as we build for the future.

John Blanshe Musinguzi is a Journalism and Communication Student at Makerere University

Email: johnblanshe77m@gmail.com