Christian journalists urged to prioritise accurate church related stories

11 July 2024, 3:17 pm

Byamukama Alozious

During a media engagement organised by the Diocese of Kampala at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero in Kampala, Provost Rebecca Nyegenye highlighted the crucial role journalists play. “Journalists are a beacon not only for the church but for the entire population; people consume what journalists publish or write,” she remarked.

She further stressed the importance of recognising the critical role journalists fulfil, emphasising that engaging with them is essential to support their efforts in producing more accurate and informative content.

The event, which gathered about 100 participants, aimed to explore how the church can work effectively with the media to spread the gospel and engage in reporting on marginalised voices. Rev. Oyugi Peter, the chief facilitator, stressed the importance of ethical journalism and integrity. “Journalists must promote local stories where the church is involved. Bad news has covered everything; we must recognise the good and write about it,” he stated.

He also urged journalists to concentrate on their work and seek guidance through prayer, drawing inspiration from Bible verses such as 1 Timothy 4:12 and Colossians 3:24.

1 Timothy 4:12 reads, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Colossians 3:24 reminds believers, “Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Rev. Peter highlighted the need to counter colonial ideologies in storytelling. “I want to give the example of the African story where whites come and discover physical features—that’s colonial ideology which is not paid attention to and it has killed our African story,” he said.

The president of the Church of Uganda Media Association (CHOUMA) expressed concerns about the lack of attention from church leaders towards journalists. “We try to come near the church, however, the church leaders are not paying attention to us, which has led to disunity among Christian journalists and limits their ability to register the association,” he noted.