Delphine Hampande, Senior Reporter | Zambia

Cathryn Spinler: How do you define journalism?

DH: It is the collecting, writing and editing of news to be disseminated to the targeted audience or readers.

 

CS: What led you to your career?

DH: So many things led me to this career but to be specific, I was led to this career by a passion to highlight a number of issues affecting both the nation and poverty matters.
 
 

CS: What types of media do you use in your work?

DH: Internet (Web), print and electronic.

CS: How has online journalism played a role in your career?

DH: It has assisted. It made my work easier in terms of research, learning how to write international articles, investigative tools as well as learning how to specialize.
 
 
CS: How have international experiences impacted your career? 

DH: I have been exposed internationally, learned the importance of ICT, have been able to interact and know how people tackle issues affecting other countries. 
ICT means Information Communication Technology, you know in Zambia these technologies are new and very few journalists are well abreast with them.  All we know is just to write and send the stories. It's only now that most journalists are learning things like blogging and Internet research.

CS: Have you experienced any gender bias(es) in your career?

DH: YES. In terms of promotions, gender bias [exists] when assigning reporters in the field, men always send women to weaker assignments, give them weaker positions. I've been senior reporter for over five years and yet those coming in are being promoted on the basis of gender.

CS: What do you think are differences in journalism between Zambia and the United States?

DH: The U.S. is more advanced. Zambia is miles away in terms of freedom of media expression -- it's a hindrance for investigative journalism as well as the lack of publishing issues affecting women.

CS: What is the relationship of the press in Zambia and your government?

DH: It is poor, hostile and perceived as enemies.

CS: How is the topic of gender inequality discussed in Zambia?

DH: Government has introduced the girl child education to empower them and the ministry of gender in order to deal with women issues and has also allowed NGOs to assist government by forming organizations to reach those women in rural areas.

The NGOs means Non Governmental Organizations, these are formed to supplement government's efforts.

CS: What do you consider to be the defining moment of your career so far?

DH: When I reported the judgment of the second republican President Frederick Chiluba's acquittal and the sending to a three years' jail sentence of his wife.
 

CS: What story was the most difficult to report?

DH: A woman who gave birth outside the biggest health institution as it was perceived taboo. And at the same time the woman in labour needed attention, health workers were on strike. My angle was to highlight the bad side to move government to order health workers go back for work and save people's lives. But it was misinterpreted and led to the arrest of one reporter.

 
CS: If you could say one thing to other female journalists around the world, what would it be?

DH: Be courageous and compete with male journalists.  Also, highlight more of female issues because no one will do it for you.
     
Interviewee: Delphine Hampande
Delphine Hampande has worked for the Times of Zambia as a senior reporter for several years.  Hampande employs not only traditional print media in her work but also electronic and web formats. Online journalism has been an influencing factor in her life and enables her to write stories that can spread across the world.

Interviewer: Cathryn Spinler
Cathryn Spinler, 21, is currently in her final year at The University of Iowa and will graduate in May of 2010. She studied French and Spanish in high school and later took classes in German and American Sign Language. She has traveled to Costa Rica, Mexico, and Canada. In addition, she plans to visit Kenya in the near future and learn Swahili. Driven by a passion for writing and a love of literature, she enrolled at The University of Iowa as an English and Journalism major. Spinler hopes that by participating in this project she will learn more about how journalism functions around the world.