The horizons of local journalists were broadened when they attended an information-sharing session with Mr Barry Avery (50), the Editor of Paydirt Magazine. Paydirt is an Autralian Magazine, founded 12 years ago, that specializes in mining news and is distributed worldwide.

Avery was on a visit to De Beers’ Venetia Mine, near Musina, where he was doing research for an article on diamond mining.

The information-sharing session was convened by De Beers Venetia Mine’s Public and Corporate Affairs Department and it took place at the Little Muck Lodge, outside Venetia Mine, last Thursday evening.

Avery has more than 29 years experience in journalism and he has worked for the Sunday Times, Eastern Province Herald, Soweto News, PE Herald and the Diamond Fields Advertiser.

He was born in Zambia and attended school in Zimbabwe. Avery has also worked for the De Beers PR Department and Anglo American Corporate Communications. He has also traveled around the world during his journalism career before he decided to settle in Australia in 2002. In Africa, he has visited countries like Ghana, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Lesotho.

Avery enlightened the local journalists about note taking, the art of photography and the ethics of journalism. Although he does not hold a university degree or any other journalism qualification, Avery said it is his love for journalism and his dedication that made him what he is today. "Although I read books, I use my practical experience to guide me in my journalism work on a daily basis. I dropped out of Rhodes University while doing a journalism degree in 1977, but I continued to work for different publications as a reporter. Armed with many years of practical experience, I struggled until I had made name for myself in the journalism fraternity."

He explained the road to success for a journalist: "You must report truthfully and never take sides. You must also be prepared to work for long hours without constant supervision. Stick to the ethics of journalism and set yourself the guiding principles that you will follow in your work. Don’t write something that you are not sure of. If you can’t get the facts, it is better to drop the story because distorting facts dents the good name of journalism."

One of the journalists who attended the information-sharing session, Silas Nduvheni from the Government Communication and Information Services (GCIS), said: "Mr Avery has revived my journalism career and his words of wisdom will motivate me to work hard. He is a well-respected journalist around the world and it was a great achievement to meet him personally. I will never forget the De Beers Venetia Mine Public and Corporate Affairs Department for facilitating such an important session. They are really empowering local journalists and we will always commend them for that."