THERE WILL BE INK - Initiative for Policy Dialogue

RetentionMany of those interviewed said that a substantial number of their colleagues had left journalism forother professions, mainly corporate and non-profit communications, due to stress or low salaries.An editor for a weekly paper said the salary in Uganda is “peanuts” compared to what journalistsmake in Kenya. One reporter at a major daily estimated that 80 percent of her colleagues had left themedia, and several of those interviewed described their plans to leave the field for jobs ranging fromagriculture to small businesses. Many attributed this trend to the fact that opportunities forpromotion are rare at most media organizations in Uganda, and the director of the MakerereUniversity Department of Mass Communications noted that many graduates from the school usejournalism as a “transition to more established careers.” 172Still, many of those interviewed expressed a passion for journalism and a determination to stay in themedia industry. “Business reporting demands a lot…but I like what I do,” said one freelancer. 173Business is “one of the best beats,” said another reporter who writes for a weekly paper. 174Potential Challenges for Training OrganizationsOf the challenges described above, including a sometimes unreliable infrastructure and generalobstacles for journalists, several are particularly relevant for organizations attempting to conductmedia trainings in Uganda. The first of these is the general attitude toward business journalism in thecountry: while business journalists are clamoring for more training, the effects of this training maybe difficult to discern until both media companies and media audiences take business journalismmore seriously. While an increase in trained journalists is certainly an important step toward greaterdevelopment of business journalism, training organizations should keep this in mind.Cost is also an issue. While major media companies tend to be able to afford to send journalistsabroad for training and to continue to operate smoothly in their absence, most independentnewspapers and most radio stations lack the necessary funding and manpower. Trainingorganizations should work to avoid disproportionately offering training to journalists who alreadyhave access to greater resources and should target reporters at smaller media companies.The Impact of Training ProgramsOf the 20 journalists interviewed in Uganda, seven had attended a training sponsored by theInternational Institute of Journalism (IIJ) in Berlin, six had attended a training sponsored byThomson-Reuters (Reuters) in London, and three had attended a local training sponsored by theWorld Bank (WB). Five had attended trainings sponsored by various American universities, by theUnited States Department of State or by smaller media organizations. Some journalists had attendedmultiple trainings; three had not attended any formal training programs aside from degree orcertificate programs at Ugandan universities.172 George Lugalambi. 2009. Interview by Rebekah Heacock. Kampala, Uganda, January 14.173 Ugandan Interviewee #17. 2009. Interview by Rebekah Heacock. Kampala, Uganda, January 13.174 Ugandan Interviewee #20. 2009. Interview by Rebekah Heacock. Kampala, Uganda, January 14.– 64 –