FROM THE PUBLIC EDITOR'S DESK : If you don’t read, how do you write?

I have never come across a journalist who doesn’t know how to read and write. This may serve to ascertain that reading is not a gift but an exercise done for a purpose.

Reading and writing are inseparable. Once one has known how to read even a single “image,” it automatically demands acquisition of the art of writing—how to hold a pencil and go straight to drawing symbols which later translate into letters and words.

It is therefore not likely to have a journalist who is illiterate. No! To be on the safe side, no single school is known for teaching journalism which does not apply reading and writing. Even home-made journalists read a lot; others say they read a lot more than those on campus.

It was in September 1996 when I met an American journalist, Arnaud de Borchgrave at a book stall within the Amsterdam airport. He died in February last year at age 84.

Arnaud, who was at the time already an acclaimed journalist specialised in international politics – having worked for the United Press, Washington Times and Newsweek—got caught by our discussion on “reading as a challenge to journalists”. In the discussion were two Swedish journalists and myself.

He straight went into it with vigour. One would think we had previously asked him to prepare for the topic. We had not. It was just a coincidence that we all met at a book stall closer to departure lounges.

Possibly after he had listened to the arguments, Arnaud didn’t wait to know who was who. He said, “I think all of us are journalists. So here we are,” and he went on to put his case on reading.

“Okay, we are in a bookshop. Pick up the Thesaurus. Look up the words ‘read and write.’ You will find it means a lot of things.”

As if he had committed all synonyms at heart, Arnaud went on to tell us what it was to read—understand writing, study, comprehend, interpret, examine, and another and another word.

He turned to the word “write” and there he was—put pen to paper, inscribe, engrave, note down and another word and another word. Finally, and I can remember, he said this: “If you can’t do these or at least some of these, journalism is not your place...”

Those were the words of a well-known journalist who, in 1947 when he was appointed Brussels bureau manager for United Press, I was only months old.

But believe it or not, there are many journalists in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and elsewhere in Africa who would say they know better than what Arnaud said.

They read—and very extensively. They write —and very profoundly. And they are in a position of saying there is “nothing new” in what the American journalist and co-author has whispered, but a mere reminder.

Yes, a reminder. As a longtime reporter, editor, trainer, mentor, ideation conductor and now the MCL Public Editor, I have had the opportunity to meet journalists of “all colours,” and ‘reminder’ is the word.

You are in a group of journalists. You are talking about this and that, but when it comes to reading, one would quickly tell you, “To be honest, I am not good at reading books; even newspapers. I normally don’t get time for that.”

A graduate from the University of Dar es Salaam, now working with a media outlet, tells it blankly, “Believe it or not, since I left the campus, five years ago, I have not completed reading one novel… and of late, I don’t know where it is.”

Confessions! Most of them may fail to tell the truth when reporting, indeed for reasons best known to them, but are kind enough to confess that they don’t even read the stories they write unless they were expecting a snub.

“The whole day is fully packed and the only time you have in the office/newsroom, is when you are writing a story or editing. When you get home you are already dead tired and the only thing you can do is to greet the dining table and then straight to bed,” says a sub-editor at a daily in Dar es Salaam.

Our journalism demands a lot of reading, searching and exchange of views. And by reading I mean making choice of material—including books, magazines, journals and newspapers—that help you to make strides in the profession; and reading everything that comes your way. In journalism we also read and write for a purpose. Besides conveying information and news that empower our targeted audiences, we read to advance our education, knowledge, skills, methods and techniques so that we perform better.

We also need to read in order to avoid degeneration into ignorance. Let us read. Let us write.

Ndimara Tegambwage is Public Editor with Mwananchi Communications Limited