EVELYN Hone College journalism lecturer Mutentwa Makomani has bemoaned the media’s limited coverage of culture and arts in the country And Post journalist Terence Miselo says programmes such as Born and Bred, and Local Rhythms Countdown are some of the ways in which the media promotes arts.

The duo was speaking during a Yezi Arts-sponsored Art in Perspective programme with the theme 'The role of media in promoting arts' on Radio Phoenix on Monday. Makomani said culture and arts play a critical role in the development of any country.

“Media traditionally has been bent towards Politics.” said Makomani Makomani said efforts have been made by the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Authority (TEVETA) to mainstream the journalism curriculum where journalism students are specialized in gender, health, politics health, culture and agriculture, but a lack of lecturers in training institutions is hampering the process.

Makomani also said the media continues to face a challenge due to ICT, and the nation can decide and determine the type of music to listen and also the type of arts to appreciate.

Miselo said that a nation always survives on culture but media coverage is bordered more on music, overshadowing theatre and other arts. He attributed this to the lack of access to information about culture due to bureaucracy by those holding such information.

He said current Zambian music is in a culture shock and artistes should appreciate cultural values in whatever they do.

Miselo also said artistes only like good coverage about themselves, and that media should promote good trends in arts and kill negative ones. “We need to give value and recognition to artistes by broadening the Ngoma Awards and also putting arts on top,” said Miselo. However, a caller said artistes themselves should spearhead the development of art because this will encourage them to work hard.