What glue can hold African economic and business journalists together?

The annual FORUM is not sufficient to hold together the members.
We need to think about the glue that can hold us together.
We are a group and our current life cycle is intermittent and not contiinous. That is we were almost born anew with each new forum and then die after the forum.

That is there was the forming-storming-norming-implementation-adjournment-all over once again-cycle.

I think what we were missing could be found in answering these questions:

1. Did we and do we still have a Shared Vision?
2. Has Personal Mastery be really our life ambition in our profession?
3. Do we really believe in Team work?
4. Did we have and do we have Mental Models of what we want to build or create?
5. Do we believe in System Thinking-that the sum of the parts is larger than the parts?


I strongly believe that in order for AEEN to survive we need to have several activities done by individuals, groups, countries, regions and Africa as a whole. What are these activities? I don't know but we can start asking ourselves can only an annual forum or exchanging emails or commenting on blogs be the answer?
Look at the question below and try to answer them honestly and without letting money issues cloudy your mind at this outset:

1. Can individual or groups from each country write their own ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS NEWS BLOG?We shall, therefore, have say -Algeria-AEEN Economic and Business News Blog, Angola-AEEN Economic and Business News Blog, Burundi AEEN Economic and Business News Blog.......down to Zimbabwe-AEEN Economic and Business News Blog.
2. At least for Each Blog we should professionally, consistently and interestingly every week present:-Economic and Business News summary-Selected Commentary and Opinions on economy and business-A number of feature stories-Economic and business indicators-Some business and economic events pictures-Some business and economic cartoons-Investment opportunties available in your country.-Interpretation of some business and economic laws-podcast/video for investment promotion/advertisement?-export/import summaries-project pipelines and latest performance-chat room and interactivityand any other item of interest to your local and international audience.
3. In doing the above am sure we may not have all the African countries-but at any rate, if we are 5, 10 let us start. This nucleus will surely inspire the rest to follow suit.
4. Most likey there will be well-wishers to support us in one way or another. Or still better a partner/partners and not someone who wants just to benefit himself only.
Conversely, someone can have an umbrella website that collects all news in the countries blogs -but in a transparent and mutual beneficial arrangement. That blog owners from each country will know precisely what money they are going to make through the umbrella online news agency. A creative and forward looking online news agency will of course all sort of assistance to guarantee they don't miss even a small piece of business or economic news from the member countries.
5. IF AEEN choose to broker this business it can get a certain commission that can enable it toassist its members too as well as have seed-capital for initiating other individual joint members programmes.
6. I see also an opportunity for local employment here. Because am sure all of us will not have all the time to take care of our blogs.
So I see myself looking among my children and other relatives who likes economic and business news, writing, editing and blogging -and challenge them to be office holders in the project. In looking for the critical contribution from me- I find it is only may be editing the contents-and have ample time for this since I have to read all the items before they are published.
This I suppose will be also the case in Angola, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and everywhere. In a way we shall be broadening the ICT base by engaging our relatives or employees in the creation and maintenance of such blogs.
7. Owners of such blogs will be more than just blog owners. Thety will be researchers, consultants and brokers of various trade and invesment deals -as surely AEEN and the supporting umbrella organizations will give the necesary references each time someone ask for such services from member countries.
8. The blogs can be used also to promote intra-Africa trade, tourism, education, sports and so on.

Sammy,
Dar es salaam