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Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Chris Mushohwe’s statement on the operations of the media is most welcome.
Dr Mushohwe was clear in his vision on the operations of the media in the statement he made on Wednesday.
It set the tone on the future relationship between Government and the media and dwelt on the basics.
There is no doubt that Dr Mushohwe’s statement jolted the media into thinking hard on the way they have been operating.
We expect that editors, especially those from the private media, will adjust their operations in line with the general expectations.
Dr Mushohwe’s statement was not about him as the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.
It was about readers and how they have been short-changed by the media.
Corrective measures need to be taken to ensure that the media does not throw away rules and ethics in the name of Press freedom. We are very much aware that the new Constitution specifically protects the media and has a section devoted to the rights of the media.
But this does not mean that the media can be allowed to operate in a way that injures society without expecting any repercussions. It is time the private media goes back to the basics. We say so because Zimbabweans have in recent days been raising issues to do with “political commissars” leading such newsrooms as editors. We have seen the private media openly pursuing the agenda of political parties like the MDC-T at the expense of developmental news.
Such media have also been guilty of antagonising the ruling party, Zanu-PF, even without any shred of evidence. One glaring example is the now “fashionable” practice of not caring about writing the truth when it comes to the ruling party.
Readers have often wondered if journalism entails manufacturing stories and selling them as news. One good example is the private media’s reportage on the ongoing 15th Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Victoria Falls.
Private media editors have been stampeding to portray the conference as a war zone in a fight for leadership positions.
Efforts by Zanu-PF officials to put the record straight that only the party’s congresses deal with election of people into leadership have been ignored.
This is just one example among many in which the private media has been reckless.
We hope that during his tenure, Dr Mushohwe will be able to correct such a situation.
Dr Mushohwe has extended an olive branch and the media must respond positively. We welcome his vision of having a media that operates freely and without any hindrances.
If Dr Mushohwe’s statement is anything to go by, then there will be exciting times for the media in the New Year.
His words were inspiring, especially where he says: “As we open a new year, which is virtually upon us, we have very definitive expectations in respect of the media industry.
“We expect a high sense of professionalism and sensitivity to matters of national interest. I committed myself to working with proprietors to ensure good practices in the media.”
But the media should not take Dr Mushohwe’s goodwill gesture for granted.
We all await the new media policy which Dr Mushohwe promised will be crafted by Government and all stakeholders at a retreat soon.
Online Reporter