GUEST ARTICLE: Cutting Through the Noise, My Two Cents on the Frank Mutubila Debate
By Daimone Siulapwa.
@ I Write What I Like
To have a fair debate, we first need to define what journalism is.
Journalism is the disciplined practice of gathering, verifying, interpreting, and publishing information of public interest. It exists primarily to inform citizens so that they can make rational decisions about governance, society, and the economy.
At its core, journalism serves democracy by holding power accountable, exposing wrongdoing, and amplifying voices that would otherwise remain unheard.
Secondly, we need to answer the question, does one need to study journalism to be a journalist? The straightforward answer is no. One does not strictly need a journalism diploma or degree to become a journalist.
Historically, many of the world’s most influential journalists never studied journalism formally. They studied law, history, economics, political science, literature, or sometimes had no university training at all. What defined them was their ability to investigate, write clearly, and pursue truth relentlessly.
Journalism is therefore more of a professional practice than a strictly regulated academic qualification. However, studying journalism can provide important advantages such as understanding media ethics, learning investigative techniques and so forth.
So, in reality, journalism is an occupation built more on skill, credibility, and public trust than on academic credentials and in that regard Frank Mutubila has passed with flying color surpassing the combination of Field Ruwe and Maureen Nkandu.
Now, let conclude by looking at Broadcating and defining who is a broadcaster?
A broadcaster is a professional who communicates information, news, entertainment, or analysis to the public through electronic media platforms such as radio, television, and digital streaming services. Broadcasting involves delivering content to large audiences simultaneously using transmission technology
Unlike print journalism, which relies on written publication, broadcasting relies on spoken communication, audio production, and visual presentation to convey information.
Secondly, does one need to study broadcasting to become a broadcaster?
Just like journalism, a person does not necessarily need a formal diploma or degree in broadcasting to become a broadcaster.
Many successful broadcasters studied:
Journalism, communication, political science, law, business or completely unrelated disciplines.
What matters most in broadcasting is practical skill, not merely academic certification.
Lastly, who can be called a broadcaster?
A person can legitimately be called a broadcaster if they regularly present or transmit content to the public through broadcast media such as radio, television, or digital broadcasting platforms.
In Zambia, examples include, Radio presenters, Television news anchors, Talk show hosts, Political program moderators, Sports commentators and Podcast hosts.
The title comes from the act of broadcasting, not from the qualification someone holds. And that regard Frank Mutubila is a broadcaster of superior quality.
An insult to academics.
However, as you put it, other studied law, etc etc, what did/has f mutubila studied? Ruwe just gave you academic facts, take it or leave it.
Yours is just an opinion not facts
Leave Frank alone. You are just being petty and jealousy. What academic education did Abraham have? Yet he is rated the best American President. Bill Gate and Steve Jobs dropped out of college yet they have achieved what PHD holders have failed to achieve. Academic education is just a tool. What matters most is the contribution to society that one makes with the education. Frank and others have done their part. What outstanding contribution to the nation have those criticising Frank made than Frank. I would encourage Frank to ignore those PHD (Pull Him Down) holders who are just jealousy of him. President KK wentup to Form II but he built the university to which those insulting the non-university graduates studied. They don’t ven realize that they are indirectly insulting their non university parents who had made it possible for them to go to university.
Telling you to think about school, to study is not disrespecting you.
But the truth is maureen nkandu is not the fella to define who is a journalist , using her own standards. No. There are set standards for everything academic and you dont flout those set standards because you are maureen nkandu or frank mutubila.
Mutbila didnt go thru school. He practiced or worked in journalism just like trick dick is still doing with his newspaper. No one said there were no people who studied something else but practiced journalism instead. The point is just straight. Even if frank mutubila has performed, he still has no academic background. Zero school.