Among its objectives, the workshop aimed at letting lecturers of journalism to explore the possibility of introducing art and culture as a module in the Journalism and Mass Communication Department of the University of Buea. It equally enabled the 30 participants to adopt innovative ways of approaching reporting in the areas of arts and culture. Pivotally, it was a conveyor – exchange to make arts and cultural reports interesting to media consumers, to create a market for it, and to give the domain its due worth.
While the lecturers of journalism committed to push the introduction of arts and culture in their department, the journalism practitioners expressed delight in imbibing innovative techniques for reporting arts and culture. Difficulties and the way forward were explored with practical solutions proposed.
Facilitators of the workshop said that correct reporting on the subject can create a tremendous market for the press. Among the half dozen presenters, George Nyamndi, an English Language lecturer at the University of Buea, spoke on “Culture as Ideology.” Ghanaian-born journalist, Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, addressed participants on “The way to the future through cultural journalism”.
South Africa’s Suzy Bell, founder of African Arts, spoke of how journalists could become cultural activists. Telesphore Mba Bizo, journalist and founder of Arterial Network-Cameroon, focussed on “Newsroom and classroom practices in arts and culture reporting.” Participants also discussed the challenges and opportunities of arts and culture reporting. The workshop, funded by the Commonwealth Foundation, was organised by the Cameroon-based Africaphonie Civil Society led by George Ngwane, a writer and pan-Africanist.
