Journalism lecturers: "We need More skills on internet use"

Tanzania Journalism lecturers have pointed out the need for learning more skills on the use of the internet and other related cyber techniques at this digital age.

Speaking at the end of the three-day training on the use of the internet to journalism lecturers, participants have admitted that, to be always up to date, journalists need always to be equipped with online and internet skills so that they can do their tasks properly.

This training has been very useful to these journalism lecturers as far as the topics covered in the course of the seminar such as skills on searching, verifying facts, creating and managing blogs are concerned.

Importantly, the training has been very practical in a way that participants were able to create their own blogs, get use of different links and data and facts found on the internet.

A Unique one in the Continent: The Smart Kigali Initiative

Rwanda Capital, Kigali, has launched 'The Smart Kigali initiative' which allows residents to access free wireless internet connectivity at designated places.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between government agencies the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), as well as the Rwanda Hotel and Restaurant Association, the City of Kigali and internet service providers (ISPs).

Jubilant primary school pupils using internet connected laptops in Kigali, Rwanda

The Initiative is aimed at provision of free broadband Wi-Fi Internet access in public places that include commercial buildings, Bus Stations, Airport, in public transport buses and cabs; Improving Internet connectivity and access in Hotels and restaurants; establishing online automated navigation system for direction using the newly implemented street and home addressing information system; Introducing automated ticketing and taxi meters in public transport; and electronic payments systems to improve financial services.

The Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana hails this initiative which will contribute in delivering better services; he stressed that high speed internet connection is very useful; “We want broadband Internet accessibility to be a basic need for everyone where people can be able to access information anytime and this will speed up the country’s development where citizens can also get various services online,” noted Minister Nsengimana.

he Mayor of the City of Kigali Fidele Ndayisaba pointed out that, “This is yet another step in advancing the use of ICT in our city and it will enhance service delivery, access to information for the city residents”.
Mayor Ndayisaba also emphasized that, “High speed internet connection and easy access will also make the visitors’ experience in Kigali more enjoyable”. He added that the City of Kigali is committed to the use of ICT for a better City.

To start with, free Wi-Fi in public places will be provided at Union Trade Center, Kigali City Tower, Kigali City Market, MTN Center, Nyabugogo Bus Park, Remera-Kisementi, Stade Amahoro, Kigali Public Library, Kanombe International Airport, KBC, Kacyiru Ministere, KIST and KIE. Internet connectivity at these sites will be powered by BSC Ltd, MTN Rwanda, TIGO Rwanda Ltd, AIRTEL, LIQUID Telecom and ISPA.

Automated taxi meters have also been installed in some taxicabs showing the fare to be charged for a trip. The automated taxi meters will protect both drivers and passengers from fare-based conflicts.

To improve financial services, the Electronic Payments Systems has been enhanced to promote efficient use of existing payments systems such as ATM’s VISA cards and others that facilitate electronic transactions.

Depending on where residents of Kigali are walking, riding through or lurking — they may be lucky enough to benefit from the city’s new tech initiative. According to The New Times, the program launched September 20 grants free wi-fi access to those in areas including restaurants, King Faisa hospital, Nyabugogo Taxi Park, commercial buildings and public buses.
Part of the ‘Smart Kigali’ initiative aims to allow visitors and tourists easy access to city landmarks and mapping while being able to utilize convenience services on the web. Collectively, internet providers Tigo and Airtel, the City of Kigali, the Rwanda Development Board and the Rwanda
- See more at: http://afkinsider.com/22636/rwanda-smart-kigali-initative-provides-free-internet-throughout-city/#sthash.b1v3ILbo.dpuf

Depending on where residents of Kigali are walking, riding through or lurking — they may be lucky enough to benefit from the city’s new tech initiative. According to The New Times, the program launched September 20 grants free wi-fi access to those in areas including restaurants, King Faisa hospital, Nyabugogo Taxi Park, commercial buildings and public buses.
Part of the ‘Smart Kigali’ initiative aims to allow visitors and tourists easy access to city landmarks and mapping while being able to utilize convenience services on the web. Collectively, internet providers Tigo and Airtel, the City of Kigali, the Rwanda Development Board and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency made the project possible, according to The New Times.
- See more at: http://afkinsider.com/22636/rwanda-smart-kigali-initative-provides-free-internet-throughout-city/#sthash.b1v3ILbo.dpuf

Depending on where residents of Kigali are walking, riding through or lurking — they may be lucky enough to benefit from the city’s new tech initiative. According to The New Times, the program launched September 20 grants free wi-fi access to those in areas including restaurants, King Faisa hospital, Nyabugogo Taxi Park, commercial buildings and public buses.
Part of the ‘Smart Kigali’ initiative aims to allow visitors and tourists easy access to city landmarks and mapping while being able to utilize convenience services on the web. Collectively, internet providers Tigo and Airtel, the City of Kigali, the Rwanda Development Board and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency made the project possible, according to The New Times.
- See more at: http://afkinsider.com/22636/rwanda-smart-kigali-initative-provides-free-internet-throughout-city/#sthash.b1v3ILbo.dpuf

Internet Training for Journalism Lecturers at SJMC, UDSM

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of Dar es Salaam, in collaboration with The Finnish Foundation for Media and Development is conducting a three-day internet training to journalism lecturers.

This training, which aims at building capacity to these lecturers in various aspects related to journalism and internet, will cover various topics such as, among others, how internet has changed societies, journalism in the age of the internet, internet in everyday journalism, journalistic research through the internet and issues related to plagiarism and copyrights.

Expectations of the trainees, including myself, from the first day of the training, Wednesday, September 24, range from a number of benefits such as acquiring skills on blogging, knowledge in reporting properly issues related to nationhood and identities,verifying facts and data in the course of reporting and the power to manage and adhere to principles and rules of copyrights and plagiarism.

On the first day, trainees have been able to learn a number of things such as facts about the internet and the internet age; websites that have changed the world; statistics about the way the world as well as the African population use the internet.

Interestingly, a heated debate emerged as participants raised the issue related to how the internet has affected the conventional or traditional media. In this regard, some participants were skeptical on whether principles of journalism such as writing of news stories strictly based on the 5W's and H would remain the same at this internet age.

According to the trainer, journalist Peik Johanson, despite the fact that internet has brought various changes in journalism, it should be treated with caution as far as the role of journalism is concerned.

It is unfortunate that this training is being held only for three days and includes just a few Tanzania journalism lecturers (16).

A section of journalism lecturers attending internet training at SJMC, UDSM

Listening to the trainer attentively

Tanzania itathmini kuwemo Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki

http://www.raiamwema.co.tz/tufikirie-upya-kuwemo-katika-jumuiya-ya-afrika-mashariki

How to Write About Africa

This article was extracted from Granta 92 Magazine

Always use the word ‘Africa’ or ‘Darkness’ or ‘Safari’ in your title. Subtitles may include the words ‘Zanzibar’, ‘Masai’, ‘Zulu’, ‘Zambezi’, ‘Congo’, ‘Nile’, ‘Big’, ‘Sky’, ‘Shadow’, ‘Drum’, ‘Sun’ or ‘Bygone’. Also useful are words such as ‘Guerrillas’, ‘Timeless’, ‘Primordial’ and ‘Tribal’. Note that ‘People’ means Africans who are not black, while ‘The People’ means black Africans.

Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel Prize. An AK-47, prominent ribs, naked breasts: use these. If you must include an African, make sure you get one in Masai or Zulu or Dogon dress.

In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don’t get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book. The continent is full of deserts, jungles, highlands, savannahs and many other things, but your reader doesn’t care about all that, so keep your descriptions romantic and evocative and unparticular.

Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat. Do not mention rice and beef and wheat; monkey-brain is an African's cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grubs and all manner of game meat. Make sure you show that you are able to eat such food without flinching, and describe how you learn to enjoy it—because you care.

Taboo subjects: ordinary domestic scenes, love between Africans (unless a death is involved), references to African writers or intellectuals, mention of school-going children who are not suffering from yaws or Ebola fever or female genital mutilation.

Throughout the book, adopt a sotto voice, in conspiracy with the reader, and a sad I-expected-so-much tone. Establish early on that your liberalism is impeccable, and mention near the beginning how much you love Africa, how you fell in love with the place and can’t live without her. Africa is the only continent you can love—take advantage of this. If you are a man, thrust yourself into her warm virgin forests. If you are a woman, treat Africa as a man who wears a bush jacket and disappears off into the sunset. Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.

Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour. Or corrupt politicians, inept polygamous travel-guides, and prostitutes you have slept with. The Loyal Servant always behaves like a seven-year-old and needs a firm hand; he is scared of snakes, good with children, and always involving you in his complex domestic dramas. The Ancient Wise Man always comes from a noble tribe (not the money-grubbing tribes like the Gikuyu, the Igbo or the Shona). He has rheumy eyes and is close to the Earth. The Modern African is a fat man who steals and works in the visa office, refusing to give work permits to qualified Westerners who really care about Africa. He is an enemy of development, always using his government job to make it difficult for pragmatic and good-hearted expats to set up NGOs or Legal Conservation Areas. Or he is an Oxford-educated intellectual turned serial-killing politician in a Savile Row suit. He is a cannibal who likes Cristal champagne, and his mother is a rich witch-doctor who really runs the country.

Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West. Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty. She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment. Moans are good. She must never say anything about herself in the dialogue except to speak of her (unspeakable) suffering. Also be sure to include a warm and motherly woman who has a rolling laugh and who is concerned for your well-being. Just call her Mama. Her children are all delinquent. These characters should buzz around your main hero, making him look good. Your hero can teach them, bathe them, feed them; he carries lots of babies and has seen Death. Your hero is you (if reportage), or a beautiful, tragic international celebrity/aristocrat who now cares for animals (if fiction).

Bad Western characters may include children of Tory cabinet ministers, Afrikaners, employees of the World Bank. When talking about exploitation by foreigners mention the Chinese and Indian traders. Blame the West for Africa's situation. But do not be too specific.

Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life—but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.
Describe, in detail, naked breasts (young, old, conservative, recently raped, big, small) or mutilated genitals, or enhanced genitals. Or any kind of genitals. And dead bodies. Or, better, naked dead bodies. And especially rotting naked dead bodies. Remember, any work you submit in which people look filthy and miserable will be referred to as the ‘real Africa’, and you want that on your dust jacket. Do not feel queasy about this: you are trying to help them to get aid from the West. The biggest taboo in writing about Africa is to describe or show dead or suffering white people.

Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires. They also have family values: see how lions teach their children? Elephants are caring, and are good feminists or dignified patriarchs. So are gorillas. Never, ever say anything negative about an elephant or a gorilla. Elephants may attack people’s property, destroy their crops, and even kill them. Always take the side of the elephant. Big cats have public-school accents. Hyenas are fair game and have vaguely Middle Eastern accents. Any short Africans who live in the jungle or desert may be portrayed with good humour (unless they are in conflict with an elephant or chimpanzee or gorilla, in which case they are pure evil).

After celebrity activists and aid workers, conservationists are Africa’s most important people. Do not offend them. You need them to invite you to their 30,000-acre game ranch or ‘conservation area’, and this is the only way you will get to interview the celebrity activist. Often a book cover with a heroic-looking conservationist on it works magic for sales. Anybody white, tanned and wearing khaki who once had a pet antelope or a farm is a conservationist, one who is preserving Africa’s rich heritage. When interviewing him or her, do not ask how much funding they have; do not ask how much money they make off their game. Never ask how much they pay their employees.

Readers will be put off if you don’t mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky. Wide empty spaces and game are critical—Africa is the Land of Wide Empty Spaces. When writing about the plight of flora and fauna, make sure you mention that Africa is overpopulated. When your main character is in a desert or jungle living with indigenous peoples (anybody short) it is okay to mention that Africa has been severely depopulated by Aids and War (use caps).
You’ll also need a nightclub called Tropicana, where mercenaries, evil nouveau riche Africans and prostitutes and guerrillas and expats hang out.
Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.

'A global Community' in Grahamstown

On Friday, 20th, May, 2011, the Rhodes University International Office organised 'an International march' for international and South African students, and Grahamstown citizens. This was a way for Rhodes to celebrate its global community.

With this year's theme 'celebrating diversity,global into local', the event was well attended; it saw this global community living in Grahamstown in their 'national dresses', 'singing in their own languages' and carrying their national flags. Everyone expressed their identity in a fun and rejoicing environment.

Royal wedding mysteries, solved.

Who is that little girl frowning during the big kiss? Read on. (AP Photo)
Why didn't Prince William watch his bride walk down the aisle? Who was that little girl covering her ears and frowning while the newlyweds kissed on the balcony? Where can I get those gorgeous earrings Kate wore to her wedding? The last remaining mysteries of the royal wedding are solved, right here at Shine.

By Lylah Alphonse, AP

Who was that adorable little girl frowning and covering her ears on the balcony during the big kiss?
That's Prince William's goddaughter, 3-year-old Grace van Cutsem, who was one of the official bridesmaids (there are no "flower girl" roles in traditional British weddings, so children are often included as bridesmaids or pages). She is the daughter of Lady Rose Astor and Hugh van Cutsem, and great-great-great-granddaughter of William Waldorf Astor, a New York-born lawyer and politician who later became a member of the British Aristocracy. (The Waldorf Hotel was one of his pet projects.) Little Grace was also pouting for part of the carriage ride; apparently, the crowd of adoring fans got a little too noisy.

Why didn't Prince William watch his bride walk down the aisle? Who was that little girl covering her ears and frowning while the newlyweds kissed on the balcony? Where can I get those gorgeous earrings Kate wore to her wedding? The last remaining mysteries of the royal wedding are solved, right here at Shine.

Are there usually trees in Westminster Abbey?
Kate loves the outdoors and, according to the Daily Mail, she ordered more than four tons of foliage to create an English country garden setting inside Westminster Abbey, including pyramid-shaped ornamental Hornbeams to frame the choir and a "living avenue" of 20-foot-tall, 15-year-old English Field Maples through which guests walked to their seats. The cost? About 50,000 pounds, or $83,335.

What music did Kate walk in to?
It didn't sound like the wedding march. The princess walked down the aisle to "I Was Glad" by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, who composed it for the coronation of Prince William's great-great-great grandfather Edward VII in 1902.

Why didn't Prince William watch his bride walk down the aisle?
Tradition. The groom is the last person to see the bride, and can only do so after she has completed the long walk down the aisle and is at his side. Since the aisle at Westminster Abbey is about 300-feet long, he had at least a four-minute wait at the altar.

What did Prince William whisper to Kate?
According to some lip readers, he told her that she looked beautiful—and then looked at his father-in-law-to-be and quipped, "We were supposed to have just a small family affair."

Where did the bride and groom go in the middle of the ceremony? They went to the Shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor, a room inside the Abbey, to sign the wedding registers.

Why was Prince William wearing red? Prince William holds an honorary rank of Colonel of the Irish Guards, and he opted to wear an Irish Guard's officer uniform instead of his Royal Air Force uniform. He also wore his Garter sash and star, Royal Air Force "wings," and Golden Jubilee medal.

Was the bride's dress inspired by Grace Kelly's? It seems that way; in fact, Kate's dress looks very much like the one worn by the American actress when she wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco in April 1956. Both Kate's gown and that of Serene Highness the Princess of Monaco had long sleeves, a cinched waist, a figure-hugging bodice, short veils, medium-length trains, and lots of delicate lace.

What was in the bride's bouquet?
According to the official royal wedding website, the bouquet was a shield-shaped collection of Myrtle, Lily-of-the-Valley, Sweet William, Ivy, and Hyacinth. The Myrtle sprigs were from plants grown from the Myrtle used in the wedding bouquets of Queen Victoria in 1845 and Queen Elizabeth in 1947.

Any hidden messages?
Each bridesmaid had her name and the date of the wedding hand-embroidered into the lining of her dress. The bride and groom could not customize their vows, but they did write their own prayer, which was read by Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, during the ceremony (download a copy of the program here). It was: "God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen." And of course, each of those flowers in the bride's bouquet had a special meaning: Lily-of-the-Valley represents the return of happiness, Sweet William stands for gallantry, Hyacinth is for the constancy of love, Myrtle symbolizes marriage and love, and Ivy is for fidelity, marriage, wedded love, friendship, and affection.

What are the full names of the newlyweds?
Prince Williams of Wales got another set of titles in time for the wedding, according to an announcement on the official royal wedding website. His full name is now His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge, Early of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus, Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Master of Arts. (According to the official website of the British Monarchy, those who have the title of HRH Prince or Princess do not need to use a last name, though theirs is Mountbatten-Windsor.) As his wife, the former Miss Catherine Elizabeth Middleton is now Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, but most people will probably call her Princess Catherine or Princess Kate (unofficially, of course).

Was Kate wearing Princess Diana's tiara?
No. Diana wore the Spencer Tiara, a family heirloom of ornate, stylized flowers decorated with diamonds in silver settings. The halo-style tiara that Kate wore was Cartier creation belonging to the Queen. King George bought it for the Queen Mother in 1936; the Queen Mother gave it to the Queen on her 18th birthday.

What about her earrings?
The bride's earrings were designed by Robinson Pelham, according to the official royal wedding website. They are diamond-set stylized oak leaves that frame a dangling diamond-set drop and pave-set diamond acorn. The earrings, which are a wedding gift to Kate from her parents, were made to match the tiara lent to her by the Queen, and were inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms.

Why did the Middleton family get a new coat of arms?
What happened to their old one? They didn't have a coat of arms before, because they weren't members of the British aristocracy. The new coat of arms features three oak-leaf-and-acorn sprigs representing the three Middleton children—Catherine (Kate), Philippa (Pippa), and James. A golden chevron honors Carole Middleton, whose maiden name was Goldsmith, and two thinner, white chevrons represent the mountains and stand for the family's love of the outdoors.

Who got to be on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with the royal newlyweds? The bride and groom took center stage, of course, but also appearing before the public were the Queen and Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall), Carole and Richard Middleton, the couple's siblings (Pippa and James Middleton and Prince Harry), the pages (Tom Pettifer and William Lowther-Pinkerton), and the bridesmaids (Eliza Lopez, Grace van Cutsem, The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, and the Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones. Yes, even some children