In December 2022, INMA and Google News Initiative (GNI) awarded their third annual Elevate Scholarship to 50 news media professionals from 31 countries. This series features these impressive media professionals who are shaping our industry.

Perseverance Javangwe is a creative and driven journalist who earned his bachelor’s degree in media studies through the Zimbabwe Open University. Now, he uses his more than five years of experience to serve as a volunteer reporter at Community Voices Zimbabwe (CVZ), where he provides compelling coverage of issues in the community.

He does this through published articles, podcasts, audio stories, and videos. “I like covering climate change, human trafficking, and reporting on issues in the marginalised communities that push the duty bearers and the government to take action,” Javangwe said.

He worked as a news correspondent for the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) from August to December 2020, providing compelling news coverage on local governance and health. In 2020 he was trained as a climate leader through the Climate Reality Leadership Training spearheaded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

The following year, he was trained in servant leadership through the Ubuntu Leaders Academy Fellowship and civic engagement leadership through the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). In 2022, Javangwe was selected as one of the finalists for the United Nations Reham Memorial Journalism Fellow. Additionally, last year he was named an Anant Climate Action Fellow and the Climate Democracy Action Fellow through People Powered.

“Climate change intervenes in a deeply unequal world and further exacerbates longstanding socioeconomic inequalities, thereby creating myriad injustices,” Javangwe said, explaining why he feels so strongly about the topic. “When confronting the challenges of climate change, justice clearly plays a large role. The adverse impacts of a warming climate are not felt equitably among people.”

Part of the appeal of the Elevate scholarship is that it draws people from such diverse backgrounds, therefore creating more opportunities for growth and learning, Javangwe said: “I wish to gain new knowledge on the news business, news media industry fundamentals — since the media industry is evolving — as well as sharing my experiences since no one has the monopoly of knowledge.

“With the great mentors at this programme, I also believe that the scholarship represents a fertile ground for positive knowledge augmentation.”

He sees the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in journalism as a problem with far-reaching consequences and said it diminishes trust in newsrooms and journalism. “These are the traits that are key for the audience,” he said. “Ever since I started volunteering for Community Voices Zimbabwe, I have realised their importance. As a news reporter, I engage in creating a more inclusive newsroom coverage through using digital, physical, and offline methods to harness marginalised voices in Zimbabwe.”

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