The French-speaking press in Rwanda has vowed to tap into opportunities for media development and improving the capacity of francophone journalists on the labour market following the strengthened ties between Rwanda and France. Recently the new French ambassador to Rwanda Antoine Anfré presented his credentials to President Paul Kagame. Jeanne Kandama, The Legal Representative of The Organization of the Francophone Press in Rwanda (OPFR) created in 2018 said that French-speaking press seeks to tap into the opportunity for media development by building the capacity of journalists while strengthening the presence of French in Rwanda. The French-speaking press is set to revive its presence on the local market at the time there are media outlets complaints about financial woes that have been worsened by Covid-19 pandemic. “There are many journalists who write in the French language in Rwanda and therefore we came up with the idea to set up a body in 2018 that will help build their capacity and at the same time promote the French language. So far over 50 active members,” she said. Three years down the road, she said the organization built the capacity of different journalists and introduced other programs that strengthen the presence of the French language. So far she said francophone journalists have been trained on Covid-19 reporting, new technologies in journalism, improving jjournalistic writing techniques and others. “We have helped six primary and secondary schools to launch school journals. We guide children aged from 11 to 15 on how to write articles in their journals as a way of developing journalistic talent among young people,” she said. She said that the vision to strengthen the presence of French is to have almost many media outlets adopting a version of their publications in French language in the next five years. By January in 2020, there were 181 accredited media outlets operating in Rwanda including 14 TV stations, 33 radio stations, 34 print media, and 100 online media. According to the Rwanda Media Commission, the total number of accredited journalists is 1,025 of whom 244 females (23.8 per cent) and 781 males (76.2 per cent). However, in general, the total number of journalists is 1,415 (443 females (31.3 per cent) and 972 (68.7 per cent) most of whom need such specialized skills. “We also expect university graduates to join the labour market with capacity to serve the French-speaking press in Rwanda,” she noted. She said that the current main challenge is financial constraints to build the capacity of the French-speaking press. French ambassador to Rwanda Antoine Anfré said that the digital media have been found prerequisite especially during Covid-19 pandemic times and therefore journalists need capacity building in it and other areas while also promoting French Language. Nelson Mbarushimana, Director General of Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) says that building capacity of French-speaking press in Rwanda will ensure French speaking community and business people both in Rwanda and Abroad access to information of what is going on. He added students and teachers will also be learning a lot from publications in French. “We have also increased hours dedicated to French language teaching. So media is another way they can use in learning the language,” he said.
