Highway Africa

Blogging expert, Vincent Maher, on blogging and journalism

Clemencia Jacobs

There is a whole discussion around who is a journalist and who can report on issues and events. Some say it does not take a degree in journalism to become a reporter others feel that not any John and his mate can be a journalist.

“You do not need to be a journalist to report on issues. News just happens, it does not wait for journalists,” says Ndesanjo Macha, a blogger, digital activist and journalist.

He adds that bloggers can cover issues and events that the mainstream media cannot. “In

According to Macha people know about breaking news before it even appears in the traditional media. “Before news even appears in the mainstream media, people get it from the Internet and disseminate it.”

When asked about the relationship between journalists and bloggers, Daudi Were, a Kenyan blogger said, “In Kenya the mainstream media seems to ignore bloggers. They feel threatened. The only time when they talk to us is when it is about technology.” 

In order for journalists and bloggers to get along they need to embrace each other, according to Macha. “You can embrace new media with traditional media. In