The digital revolution poses a threat to journalists' job security, and it is imperative that media houses equip themselves to respond to the challenges that come with digitalization.
 
This is according to the Director of the Namibia Media Trust and Chairperson of the Global Forum for Media Development, Zoé Titus, in an interview with the Daily Roundup Show.
 
Titus shared some of the matters discussed at the three-day hybrid conference on the Future of Journalism Education in Southern Africa, which was attended by a substantial online audience.
 
One such is the digital revolution's effects on journalists' jobs as well as the need for media practitioners to change their focus to telling community stories and those of ordinary people.

"We examined the big-picture issues surrounding media viability. For example, in many countries, governments are intervening to ensure the sustainability of the media. In some instances, national task forces have been established. There is a need for governments and media to work together to ensure media viability. There are best practices elsewhere that we can learn from. Thereafter, we looked more closely at how journalism educators themselves are part of the recipe for media viability."
 
She pointed out that one of the findings of the 8th round of the Afrobarometer showed that people trust journalists less than politicians, which is worrisome and impacts the viability of the media.

"People trust journalists less than they trust politicians, and that is very serious. So, the only way that we can deal with that is to ensure that we do the best journalism possible to regain public trust through ethical and professional journalism because journalists play such an important role in our society."
 
She says that the environment in which some journalists are working is also not conducive.
 
"Just last week I was with colleagues in Zimbabwe, where we reviewed the global UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity to respond to the increasing digital violations that journalists are suffering. That is a new development in the context of the safety of the journalist."

The United Nations designated November 2 as an International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

In the month of October, at least four journalists were murdered in the line of duty in Africa