BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Southern Region Press Club (SRPC) has challenged journalists to look beyond the newsroom and embrace entrepreneurship as a means of achieving economic independence.

This comes as the club holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Blantyre over the weekend.

SRPC president Ronald Amos said the days when journalists relied solely on newsrooms for survival are over, emphasizing that financial stability is key to maintaining professionalism and integrity in the media industry.

“Economic freedom among journalists is no longer a luxury it’s a necessity.Without it, the profession risks being compromised, especially in the face of growing economic pressures and shrinking media revenues,” explains Amos..

He disclosed that through the SRPC cooperative, members are venturing into various income generating projects, including a multimillion-kwacha poultry project in Lirangwe, being implemented with funding support from the Agricultural Commercialization (AGCOM) programme.

The project, valued at K340 million, has already received K148 million as its first tranche.

According to Amos, the initiative is designed to help journalists supplement their incomes while supporting the long-term sustainability of the media industry.

The AGM, held under the theme “Media Professionalism: A Tool for Economic Advancement and Good Governance,” has attracted dozens of media practitioners and stakeholders who are discussing ways to strengthen professionalism, enhance training and build stronger partnerships for media development.

The event is being supported by Castel Malawi, Glo Best and the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF).

The Maravi Post