Namibia: MISA supports new Media Ombudsman& Complaints Committee

MISA-Namibia has pledged its full support to Media Ombudsman and the Media Complaints Committee. The Namibia’s Media Ombudsman was launched on 13 November 2009 in Windhoek.

Acting National Director of MISA Namibia, Marbeline Mwashekele says in support of the Media Ombudsman, MISA-Namibia plans to host a number of workshops for journalists on the Code of Ethic, as well as workshop on media literacy and the roles of the Media Ombudsman for the public.

“We also intent to have road shows with the Media Ombudsman to explain the workings of the complaints mechanisms as well as the content of the Media Code of Ethics.  In addition, we will develop miniature booklets with the Code of Ethics and the Complaints mechanisms, for distribution of journalists and the public”, Mwashekele explained.

 

Media Ombudsman Clement Daniels also highlighted some of the challenges the media faces.

 

“One of the major challenges the media faces is to uphold the right balance between serving the public interest and upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizen, be they private or public office holders”, stressed Daniel.

 

Daniels went on to say that despite the challenges in which the media operates, media practitioners, like any other profession, are expected to perform their work in an ethical and professional manner.

 

“In this way they can make a positive contribution towards the development and sustainability of freedom of expression and of the media, which is a fundamental requirement of a democratic society”, he added.

 

The Media Ombudsman said to make self-regulation work, it is important that the media practitioners know what is expected from them, and that the public should know the Code of Ethics, their rights as citizen, in relation to media and how to make complaints against the media. It is for this reason that the Media Ombudsman will embark on a number of activities to promote the code of ethics and the complaints procedures to the general public to ensure that it is well known to the majority of Namibians.

 

Daniels stressed that the Ombudsman and the other complaints adjudicators will be independent from the Editors Forum of Namibia and the media in general, in order to enhance the integrity of procedures and encourage public participation. 

“This however does not mean that the media should not support this self-regulation process, both morally as well as materially. Materially does not always mean hard cash, but other creative methods, such as free advertisement, distribution of material and hosting of public events”, Daniels said.

 

MISA Namibia congratulates the Namibian Media for a victorious walk to self-regulation. //End//

 

_________________________________________________

Reagan Malumo

Programme Officer: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat

21 Johann Albrecht St

Private Bag 13386

Windhoek

Namibia

Phone: +264 61 232 975

Fax: +264 61 248 016

Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

E mail: reagan@misa.org

www.misa.org 

 

 

-November 13, 2009

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Source:www.misa.org  (received via email alert 13.11.2009)