Chief Executive Officers and Directors General from public broadcasters across the SADC region have completed a special training programme focused on governance, financial management, and leadership in the media sector.

The training took place in Johannesburg, alongside the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA) journalism workshop, and aimed to strengthen the management of public broadcasting institutions.

Stanley Similo, President of SABA and Director General of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, emphasized the importance of leadership in setting the tone for organizational performance.

“It was really great to hear the different experiences that people have been having in their respective organizations,” Similo said. “But above all, we also had an opportunity to reflect on how we are doing things on our own. If leadership is not properly in place, naturally that may create a culture where things will not work well—even your own training as journalists. It worked very, very well.”

Berard Dupres, CEO of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, said their participation showed commitment to skills development and highlighted the growing relevance of artificial intelligence in media.

“Our broadcaster has sent a couple of journalists, thereby indicating the importance for them to learn,” Dupres said. “It is very important that we not just learn and engage, but also debate—especially around AI. People must share the pros and cons, and the benefits, thereby removing some of the fears around these tools.”

Dupres stressed that even as AI becomes more common in newsrooms, ethical journalism must remain a priority. “It is a huge undertaking, but journalistic standards must be protected,” he said.

The session encouraged leaders to continue investing in training and to foster open conversations about emerging technologies that are reshaping the media landscape.