Media seen as key

MEDIA is an important tool for development and the Draft National Media Development Policy must not infringe on the principle of freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution in any form, Higher Education and Sports Minister Don Polye says.
Polye said freedom of expression was a pillar of democracy and called on the media to exert due diligence and responsibility while reporting the truth with fear or favour.
“The policy must also strengthen the penalty clauses in the Defamation Act or insert a new one to penalise media outlets and reporters who abuse their ethics and code of conduct,” he said.
Polye said the media had immense power and cited a report on his election as an example saying that the front page report ran by a newspaper, almost triggered a tribal fight.
He also raised concern on the apparent affiliations of editors and reporters.
He added that individuals needed to be impartial and seek the truth not dictate their biases and personnel preferences dictate the tone and style of their reporting.
“Most newsrooms also lack trained reporters,”he said.
“There must be a room in the policy, to ban non-trained reporters to be employed as journalists.”
Polye also called on the media to refrain from using violent words in their reports such as ‘killing’ had the effect of normalising the act.
“Constant use of words like ‘killing’ will make our people view it as normal in the societ,” he said.
Meanwhile, Polye said the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology would work with journalism and communications schools to improve the quality of journalism and to ensure quality assurance in courses.