Top CNN Journalist Drills Botswana Broadcasters

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Monday October 18, 2010 00:00

 

The senior CNN news writer and editor is in the country courtesy of the American Embassy in Gaborone. He has been interacting with local broadcasters (TV and radio) to share ideas and experiences on how to move forward and catch up with the developed world. Last week, he conducted a workshop at the newly revamped e-Botswana (formerly GBC), the first and oldest television station in the country.

He said he was impressed by the determination and intelligence of the young people who dominate the local broadcasting industry. He said those he had already worked with showed hunger to learn. 'Experience and maturity is essential, but we should always provide room for young people to learn because they are innovative and still full of energy,' he said. 

Gurien said Botswana is seen in the US as one of the greatest success stories in Africa and this view can only be maintained through positive, good and creative reporting, especially through the broadcast media. He said judging by the fact that TV is relatively new in the country, it has developed very fast. He said it is important for TV to move forward in the right direction to realise its full potential and contribute to the development of the country.

He warned the television industry to avoid being labeled copycats by doing things exactly the same way they are done in other countries like the US. 'It will be unrealistic to have a purely Botswana TV, but it is also important for locals to create their own programs because it is the responsibility of TV to reflect people's culture,' he stated.

e-Botswana director Mike Klinck said the training conducted by Gurien was timely because his staff are relatively new. 'We want to come up with a completely different product in local TV, so the training came at the right time,' he said. Gurien will conduct training workshops at the University of Botswana as part of his visit to the Botswana.