In the continuously evolving landscape of newsrooms, international exchange programmes have become an essential component.
The Head of News and Current Affairs from Lesotho Television, Celinah Leteketa, visited the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation to gain insight into news production and broadcasting practices.
Leteketa spent two weeks at Namibia's public broadcaster as part of a Public Media Alliance programme for benchmarking and knowledge sharing through peer-to-peer assessments at public broadcasters around the world.
She described her time at NBC as having provided valuable knowledge on digital media platforms and modern newsroom integration, which she said would contribute to the improvement and development of media operations at Lesotho Broadcasting Service (LBS).
"My interest was particularly on the use of online or digital media, which are your TikTok, your websites, Facebook and Instagram, and I have learned a lot because we have just started to have our online media presence."
The NBC has established an integrated newsroom system that allows all platforms, radio, television, and digital, to disseminate a consistent message. Leteketa said the experience was valuable because LBS is busy integrating its operations.
"We are also doing what is called a condensed newsroom. We have just started to combine the newsrooms of Lesotho Television, radio, our government newspaper, and the Lesotho News Agency into one. So when you see the broadcaster already combining the television and radio, it's easier for me to take some points and go back with them and help in our congested project in Lesotho."
NBC Director General Menesia Muinjo, who additionally serves as a board member for the Public Media Alliance, emphasised the crucial role that the PMA plays in bridging the gaps between public broadcasters.
The NBC has gained from the PMA programmes, with several staff members participating in training across various fields, including the ethical use of AI in newsrooms, and undertaking benchmarking visits.
Muinjo further emphasised the significance of embracing technological advances to enhance the quality and delivery of news and media content. The NBC maintains a robust presence on digital platforms, providing news in formats that are accessible to a broader audience, such as the News in Brief on TikTok, which is a compilation of the day's news highlights.
Muinjo said, "We keep learning as technology evolves. Yes, news is news, but there are better ways to do it, whether through AI with human intervention or the tools we use to gather and package news."