Radio show with Umaru Sanda Amadu (Presenter at Citi FM Ghana and winner of the 2014 WASH Media Award)
Umaru Sanda gives the listener of this show insight in the main challenges of getting water reports in mainstream media. One of the reasons is money. It simply costs money to cover a story. Politicians and celebrities spend money to get their stories covered, hence this is the majority of the news.
This can and should not be the case of community story coverage, says Umaru Sanda who recently won an award for the documentary called “Water Wahala” in which he shares the story of his community members. He was inspired to make this documentary as he watched his community members struggle to get water every day.
Umaru Sanda is sure that there is no lack of demand for similar stories. Also, people like his community members are eager to share these stories. Incentives to cover them is still a challenge though. Having more recognition through awards like the WASH Media Award would certainly help, but more important is to create a change in thinking among journalists. It should become clear to journalist that they are a mirror of society and it is their duty to report on important topics as water and sanitation, says Umaru Sanda.
This interview is part of the series “Water in the newsroom” that brings together journalists and water professionals. The series aims to create conversations about water in the mainstream media. The interviews were done on Google Hangouts. Would you like to join the conversation? Send us an email info@thewaterchannel.tv.
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