COMU 1152 Media Conference 1

In the COMU 1152 lecture of week 3, we had our first media conference and our guest speak was Robert Mukombozi.

Based on my research before the lecture, Robert Mukombozi is an investigative Rwandan journalist, currently he study a master of journalism and mass communication at Griffith University, and he also writes for The African Executive.  A highlight in his career is to be the first journalist to interview war criminal, Joseph Kony, who is the head of a Ugandan guerrilla group and abducted 66,000 children to become salves or soldiers. （If you want to know more about Kony, watch the video below)

                                          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

At the beginning of media conference, Robert showed us a 30 mins video clip on his experience as a journalist in Uganda. He has been arrested 15 times in Uganda and once kept inside the dark for 4 days. Because of his reporting, he received death threat from both the government and individuals.

After the video, he shared his ideas on Public Relations as a journalist. Robert said, as a PR you need to prepare enough news-worthy information for journalists who are curious and always want to know more. And the information for print media should be different from the one for television or radio media, as they have different ways on telling stories.

And in the conference where you present, you need to be well prepared for technical problems and complex questions. Once the cameras and recorders are turned on, no mistakes can be made. And when the presenting is in visual, it’s important to choose the best picture to present. As a journalist, Robert think there are always pressure to prevent the story-telling, but finding the truth is more important than anything for the journalist. His last advice is to have real practice, write more, listen more and read more.

In the Q&A part, several questions were raised. One question that leaved me profound impression is how he can control himself when he faced violent and death. He said he faced this situation so many times that it already became a part in his life. And he still has to go for counseling to deal with these bad experiences.

Robert gave himself to the carrier which he loves and willing to take risk for. I admired his brave and passion, and for me and other PR students, his talking was very inspiring!