African editors praise Namibia
In messages of solidarity to Namibian journalists the African and the Press Council of South Africa, continue to emphasise the importance of self-regulation of the media.
Namibia stands out as a shining beacon of media freedom, the African Editors' Forum has said in a message of solidarity as the country celebrated World Press Freedom Day yesterday.
The delayed celebrations were marked in Windhoek and local journalists were addressed by President Hage Geingob, among other speakers.
The African Editors' Forum believes that Namibia – currently enjoying the highest ranking on the continent when it comes to media freedom – is a good example to other countries.
Namibia is ranked 24 out of 180 countries in the world.
“The African Editors' Forum (TAEF) today heaps tons of praise to journalists, editors and the government of Namibia for working hard to ensure that Namibia remains the highest ranked country on the African continent when it comes to media freedom,” said the messaged sighed off by Jovial Rantao, TAEF chairperson.
“TAEF believes that other countries from Africa and other continents can learn lessons from Namibia a country which through Section 89 of the Communications Act, allows for self-regulation of the media. We urge the Editor's Forum of Namibia (EFN) as well as the government of Namibia led by His Excellency Hage Geingob to jealously guard the freedom and independence of the media, ensuring that it grows and deepens.”
The African editors also added that the Windhoek Declaration, which advocated for a media pluralism and independence back in 1991, remains a historic one. The declaration is a statement of press freedom principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
“This declaration was a bold and powerful statement that traced the connection between a fully independent media and successful participatory democracy. The Windhoek Declaration called for a free, independent and pluralistic media throughout the world. The declaration also asserted that a free press is essential to democracy and a fundamental human right. At the same time, participants at the historic summit highlighted the practical problems of journalists in Africa, particularly those related to acquiring up-to-date equipment, building inter-company cooperation, and providing adequate training.”
Self-regulation is best
In another solidarity message, the Press Council of South Africa said media self-regulation was good for democracy instead of allowing the government to control the work of journalists.
“Along with the EFN and the office of your Media Ombudsman, the Press Council of South Africa believes that is only media that uphold very high standards of ethics and conduct that will emerge triumphant at the other end of the current revolution. We also believe, along with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, that effective self-regulation is the best system for promoting high standards in the media,” the Press Council of South Africa said.
“High standards flourish when they grow voluntarily from inside the newsroom and are not imposed from outside. In this democratic world, readers and listeners and viewers are the final judges of good journalism. And it is the publications that maintain these high standards now that will emerge as the butterflies at the other end.”
STAFF REPORTER
The delayed celebrations were marked in Windhoek and local journalists were addressed by President Hage Geingob, among other speakers.
The African Editors' Forum believes that Namibia – currently enjoying the highest ranking on the continent when it comes to media freedom – is a good example to other countries.
Namibia is ranked 24 out of 180 countries in the world.
“The African Editors' Forum (TAEF) today heaps tons of praise to journalists, editors and the government of Namibia for working hard to ensure that Namibia remains the highest ranked country on the African continent when it comes to media freedom,” said the messaged sighed off by Jovial Rantao, TAEF chairperson.
“TAEF believes that other countries from Africa and other continents can learn lessons from Namibia a country which through Section 89 of the Communications Act, allows for self-regulation of the media. We urge the Editor's Forum of Namibia (EFN) as well as the government of Namibia led by His Excellency Hage Geingob to jealously guard the freedom and independence of the media, ensuring that it grows and deepens.”
The African editors also added that the Windhoek Declaration, which advocated for a media pluralism and independence back in 1991, remains a historic one. The declaration is a statement of press freedom principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
“This declaration was a bold and powerful statement that traced the connection between a fully independent media and successful participatory democracy. The Windhoek Declaration called for a free, independent and pluralistic media throughout the world. The declaration also asserted that a free press is essential to democracy and a fundamental human right. At the same time, participants at the historic summit highlighted the practical problems of journalists in Africa, particularly those related to acquiring up-to-date equipment, building inter-company cooperation, and providing adequate training.”
Self-regulation is best
In another solidarity message, the Press Council of South Africa said media self-regulation was good for democracy instead of allowing the government to control the work of journalists.
“Along with the EFN and the office of your Media Ombudsman, the Press Council of South Africa believes that is only media that uphold very high standards of ethics and conduct that will emerge triumphant at the other end of the current revolution. We also believe, along with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, that effective self-regulation is the best system for promoting high standards in the media,” the Press Council of South Africa said.
“High standards flourish when they grow voluntarily from inside the newsroom and are not imposed from outside. In this democratic world, readers and listeners and viewers are the final judges of good journalism. And it is the publications that maintain these high standards now that will emerge as the butterflies at the other end.”
STAFF REPORTER
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