USAID-Funded Program Trains Malawi Journalists on Governance Reporting
The PSP program seeks to contribute to Malawi's democratic governance by supporting the parliament in fulfilling its legislative, oversight, and representative functions.
LILONGWE, Malawi— Journalists from various Malawi media outlets received training on governance reporting skills through a U.S.-funded program aimed at enhancing democracy in the country, writes Esther Banda.
The Democracy International's Parliamentary Support Program (PSP), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), conducted the full-day training session on Sept. 25 in Lilongwe.
Dr. Sasho Ordanoski, a parliamentary communication strategist, stressed the importance of comprehensive reporting skills for journalists covering governance issues.
"Journalists don't need to know everything but need to know who does," Ordanoski said.
He emphasized the need for understanding political communication and improving the quality and accuracy of reporting on governance matters.
The training aimed to help journalists analyze the media's role in civic engagement and understand the functions, processes, and procedures of Malawi's parliament as a key governance institution.
Ambassador Roosevelt Gondwe (Ret.), a consultant on legislative strengthening, highlighted the importance of a balanced relationship between parliament and the media.
"Parliament and media need one another. They should show mutual respect for one another. The relationship should, however, not be overly close," Gondwe said.
The PSP program seeks to contribute to Malawi's democratic governance by supporting the parliament in fulfilling its legislative, oversight, and representative functions.
It provides technical support to select parliamentary committees and caucuses, promotes cross-institutional coordination between parliament and oversight institutions, and facilitates collaboration between parliament, civil society organizations, and the media on public integrity issues.
This initiative comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and improve governance reporting in Malawi, a country that has faced various political and economic challenges in recent years.