Maravi

Statutory regulation is a mockery to journalism Kabwela

Statutory regulation is a mockery to journalism Kabwela
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 22 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT

STATUTORY regulation of the media is a mockery to the journalism profession, says Press Freedom Committee of The Post chairperson Chansa Kabwela.

Featuring on Radio Phoenix’s Let The People Talk programme yesterday dubbed Media Freedom, Kabwela said there was need to give greater freedom to journalists in their operation in order for the country’s democracy to grow.

“Media freedom is key, especially when you bring in democracy. It is important because democracy cannot thrive without a free press.

The media regulates itself on a daily basis and we operate within the law,” Kabwela said.

She said the self-regulatory mechanism was meant to allow journalists to operate in a better environment and enhance professionalism.

Kabwela said statutory regulation had never worked to the benefit of the media and ordinary people wherever it was introduced.

However, Kabwela said the media was optimistic that something good would come out of the negotiations on issues of regulation between the government and the Media Liaison Committee.

And Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia chapter chairman Daniel Sikazwe said free flow of information allowed for democracy to be strengthened.

Sikazwe said when people had access to information, they could express themselves freely.

“But when there is no free flow of information, you can't have a good democracy. A free press and democracy are fundamental in a country like Zambia… selfregulation of the media is in line with today’s human civilisation,” he said.

He said democracies in the world that did not over-regulate their institutions were moving forward.

Sikazwe said press freedom was a must because it helped people to discover the truth and was important not only for the media but for the people as well.

Meanwhile, Society for Senior Journalists chairman Ridgeway Liwena said a free press promoted democracy and acted as a watchdog on abuse of power by those in authority.

Liwena said there was need to promote dialogue between the government and media bodies, adding that failure to do so would promote mistrust and in the end, society would suffer.

Liwena also called on journalists to consider delving into specialisation to ensure that people received adequate and well-researched information.

Labels: CHANSA KABWELA, MEDIA, REGULATION

posted by MrK @ 4:00 AM