Decent Mafukidze
Zimbabwe’s media ecosystem is witnessing a fundamental shift in the way stories about key populations are crafted and disseminated.
Activists, traditionally positioned as subjects, are now stepping into editorial collaboration—co-producing narratives that reflect not just struggle, but resilience, innovation, and leadership.
This change stems from targeted engagements between grassroots organizations and freelance journalists.
These sessions, held across provinces, explored the impact of misrepresentation and the need for media to serve—not sensationalize—the community. Through these initiatives, barriers between newsroom and community have started to dissolve.
The publication of a Reporting Guide for Journalists, developed from these engagements, has catalyzed reforms in editorial strategy. Journalists now consult directly with advocates before publication.
Activists help shape framing, fact-check sources, and ensure accuracy in cultural references and identity descriptors.
This model of co-authorship not only strengthens the credibility of the media—it recalibrates power. It proves that when journalism reflects the lived realities of its subjects, the stories resonate wider, deeper, and more meaningfully with the public.