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Statutory media regulation is not the best - MISA-Zambia

Statutory media regulation is not the best - MISA-Zambia
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday August 03, 2008 [12:48]

THE Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has disassociated itself from some Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ) members’ resolution to transform the institution into a statutory ethics body. In a media statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, MISA-Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe stated that statutory media regulation was not the best form of media regulation as it inhibits media freedom and freedom of expression.

“The Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zambia would like to express concern over media reports that some media practitioners attending a Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ) meeting in Lusaka recently are proposing statutory media regulation as opposed to self-regulation,” Kabwe stated. “MISA-Zambia disassociates itself from these remarks.”

He stated that although MISA-Zambia was totally against statutory media regulation, there was urgent need for the media in Zambia to be ethical and responsible in their conduct.

“We urge the media not to create unnecessary conditions for statutory regulation,” stated Kabwe. “We would like to urge the media in Zambia to be united and support the Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ) in ensuring that a solution to media ethics is found. There is need to find ways of strengthening media self-regulation to ensure that it is sustainable.”

Labels: MECOZ, MEDIA, MISA, REGULATION

posted by MrK @ 8:16 PM