Self-regulation is considered as fair and effective mechanism than government imposed regulation in ensuring professionalism and ethics across the media spectrum. The creation of an independent media council is also a half way towards a self regulated media.
But previous efforts had not come to fruition mainly due to external pressures. However, as the country enters transition time with much issue at stake the issue of media council has come to the spotlight once again. The previous CSO law 621/2001 was the major hurdle to blame for the failure.
With major happenings scheduled to take place in the country, the need for self regulated media would be at stake without establishing a media council. This time requires to steer the country in right direction. Usually, government regulation appears to be more stifling and either misused and misguided.
Putting in place Media Councils and other selfregulatory mechanisms such as Code of Ethics proves more genuine and effective for responsible journalism once told The Ethiopian Herald Dr. Getachew Denku a journalism and communication lecturer at Addis Ababa University. Self and peer regulations are important tools for creating professional and responsible journalism. Self regulation leads to self correcting measures.
The media cannot be free from error but it should be governed voluntarily by a formed council or other professional entities. This would also ease government’s job to monitor the media landscape and enforce press laws.” The idea of self regulation emanates from creating peer reviews across the media and should be far reaching up to taking measures on parties abusing the noble field.
Establishing media council must target at ensuring quality promote journalism not for the sake organizing the media. Relying on strict government regulation can be more intimidating and muscular and lead to stifled press freedom, underscored Dr. Gtachew.
Of late, the Office of the Prime Minister organized a national forum entitled Dialogue In Ethiopia to which the issue of media council was central point of discussion. Presenting his paper entitled ‘Media in Transition’; Jawar Mohammed mentioned that the media sector has swiftly tapped opportunities created as a result of the national reform more than CSOs and political parties made. To him, a Media Council ought to come to realization to ensure self-regulation and professional journalism sooner than later. Ratifying the media law [which is at draft stage] is one important mechanism to make certain that the media play its due roles in the society.
Despite the opportunities, vacuum created as a result of the destruction of previous repressive laws and the delay in providing new laws that better regulate the sector, a challenge facing the media landscape, as he stated. Also, Sisay Agena who discussed the role of ‘Media in State Building’ said the would-be Media Council is a separate entity with representation from various sectors including journalists’ association.
“The media landscape has been freed and as we have learnt, getting media licenses has also become easier.” Head of PMO Press Secretary NigussuTilahun, also presented paper on Current Media Function and the BY YESUF ENDRIS way forward in which he toughed up on wide-array of issues including limitation on the government side in accessing information. Establishing strong and vibrant association has been fragile and ineffective as the government failed to do enough or even discouraging efforts. Some of the government’s attempts were being carried out on the guise of civil societies and associations r e g i s t r a t i o n process.
The government should have helped the media to regulate itself. The incumbent must seriously be committed to help the media set up councils. Let alone journalism, other professionals must be regulated . When the government manage to meddle and have stake in the media council or other professional association, it will be a beginning to end of independence, stated Tsegaye Tadese senior journalist and former Retours Correspondent .
However, Tsegaye noted if a media council is formed by professionals and practitioners, it is deemed to be fair and independent. Media council eases confrontation between the media and the government. Issues related to professionalism and ethics can easily be settled by the media council without court’s involvement and other process.
“Previous attempts to make professional association were unsuccessful due to various reasons mainly associated with government pressure.” The media should regulate itself more than any time before given the political situation in the country specially when the politicians are trying to twist and misuse the platforms being provided by the different media, he adds. The media organizations managed and led by journalists who are unbiased , educated and impartial. Even without establishing media council a media house can regulate itself depending on its editorial policy, code of conduct and professional standards.
The very principles and basic standards of journalism if implemented on complete manner would even help any media govern and regulate itself. It is to be recalled that different media owners have been trying to establish media council that years though the process staled. Self regulatory mechanism would play pivotal role in ensuring professionalism, However, he says we should not confuse self regulation and self censorship. any kind of self censorship is banned by the constitutions.
We need to draw a clear line between both aspects. A council established by journalists and overseen by board from public institutions. We will not see media council any time soon. If there is political commitment establishing media councils would more simple and realistic. The government must also believe that private media is part and parcels of national efforts to democratize the country. In this regard its efforts were not bold enough. The very objective of media council is to provide professional justice and ensure self corrective measures in the media spectrum.
Herald March 1/2019
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
