EU Pledges Support for Media Skills Development in Malawi

EU Ambassador Rune Skinnebach met with the management of Nation Publications Limited (NPL) in Blantyre, Malawi on Monday and pledged the European Union's support for media skills development in the country. The aim is to strengthen the media's role in holding leaders accountable, especially as Malawi approaches elections.

During the meeting, Skinnebach encouraged the media to embrace changes and develop investigative journalism. "Investigative journalism can help Malawians make informed decisions," he said. The EU Ambassador hinted at plans to support media skills development so journalists can effectively do their job.

NPL representatives acknowledged the challenges they face in accessing public information, but said they handle information with caution and avoid publishing stories without verified sources. Skinnebach's visit to NPL was part of a tour of media institutions in Malawi.

Why this matters: A strong and independent media plays a vital role in promoting transparency, accountability and democracy in Malawi. EU support for media development can help journalists better inform the public and scrutinize those in power, which is especially important during an election period.

Skinnebach's pledge comes at a time when Malawi's media faces various challenges in carrying out its watchdog role. NPL management highlighted difficulties in obtaining public information from government officials and the need to carefully verify sources before publishing stories. The EU's support aims to equip journalists with the skills and resources to overcome these obstacles and deliver high-quality reporting to the Malawian public.

Key Takeaways

• EU envoy pledged support for media skills development in Malawi.
• Aim is to strengthen media's role in holding leaders accountable before elections.
• Envoy encouraged media to embrace investigative journalism for informed decisions.
• NPL faces challenges in accessing public information and verifying sources.
• EU support aims to equip journalists with skills to overcome obstacles.