7 September 2005
MISA CONFERENCE URGES REGIONAL MEDIA ETHICS STANDARDS
Press freedom advocates and journalists attending a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) conference in Windhoek, Namibia, have stressed the need for regional ethical guidelines to strengthen the quality of reporting in Southern Africa, and called for a study on media ownership.
At the conference, held on 21-24 August 2005 under the theme "Towards an Ethical African Media", delegates from eleven countries took a strong stand against "deteriorating ethical standards" in the region and urged journalists to respect intellectual property rights.
They said regional guidelines would help "shape the quality of reporting in our region." Regional media bodies were called upon to actively participate in the development of principles and guidelines on ethics, and MISA was mandated to work with other bodies to promote the establishment of voluntary media councils in the region.
The delegates also recommended that a study be launched to look at African media ownership models that work.. This was needed to counteract government ownership and influence of the media in Southern African countries. "Government control stifles editorial independence and free, fair and objective reporting," the delegates said.
For more information on MISA's conference, visit: http://www.misa.org/
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