By Agatha N. Biira
A team from BBC Africa Daily has today held a masterclass on podcasts with the students of the School of Journalism at Uganda Christian University (UCU). The masterclass held at the E-learning laboratory featured Alan Kasujja, the host of Africa Daily, BBC Minute Presenter, Ria Khatab, Janet Ball, the producer for Africa Daily, and Olivia Komugisha, a reporter with NTV Uganda.
Talking about how they choose the stories to tell, Janet Ball, the producer for Africa Daily, said it is important to choose a topic that is relevant and current. “We want to sound current. We don’t want to be talking about stories that happened two weeks ago. If there is an event that is going to impact on people, then do the story,” she said.
The process of telling a story includes conducting interviews, which are a vital part of the story. Kasujja, a renowned journalist, lead presenter for BBC Newsday and host of Africa Daily, said before starting an interview, one should know what they are talking about.
During the class, David Ijjo, a third-year student of Journalism and Communication at UCU, asked why the BBC reports only bad stories about Uganda and Africa. He also asked if BBC could have a solutions-based approach to their stories. “When I watch investigative stories by the BBC, it is like I am watching horrors,” Ijjo said.
Ball said it is hard to be positive sometimes when there is endless negativity everywhere. “We can’t just say the world is good because there are a lot of bad things happening. We also need to have a balance in the stories, “she said.
Khatab also encouraged students to do what they loved. “If you try something and you don’t like it, don’t go down that road. Your work life is your whole life, so do what you love,” she said.
Kasujja also urged the students to learn to tell their own stories. “If you feel like someone is not telling a story properly, tell the story yourself. Unless you tell your own story, you will always hear it from a perspective that may not sit comfortably with you, “he said.
