Ailonga to lead EFN

The Editors' Forum of Namibia (EFN) has retained the services of Joseph Ailonga who retains the position of chairperson.Ailonga was re-elected unopposed during a special annual general meeting held last week for a second two-year term.“The work continues,” Ailonga stated after his re-election. He stressed the importance of jealously guarding media freedom in Namibia and to restore the country's international rating to previous levels. Namibia ranks 24th globally out of 180 countries, according to the just released 2017 World Press Freedom Index.Facilitating training for journalists and broadening the membership base of the EFN will, according to Ailonga, be the key objectives of the new executive committee.Other members of the executive committee are Wilfried Hähner (Hitradio Namibia) as vice-chairperson, Alna Dall (One Africa Television) as secretary and Christof Maletsky (The Namibian) – treasurer (re-elected but to a new portfolio).The new additional members are Ronelle Rademeyer (Republikein), Willem Steenkamp (One Africa TV) and Peter Denk (NBC).The executive committee was tasked by the AGM to co-opt two additional members, one each from community broadcasting and online media respectively.Two AGMs held on 11 August and 13 September this year elected new people to serve as representatives of the public and the media on the Media Complaints Committee and the Media Appeals Committee.The process was completed after public nominations were requested through the media and whose deadline was 30 June 2017.These two committees will assist the new Media Ombudsman, John Nakuta, during the adjudication of a dispute or will hear any appeal against a ruling by the Media Ombudsman.The EFN is a member of the Southern African Editors' Forum (SAEF) as well as the African Editors' Forum (TAEF). TAEF's joint forum with the AU Commission was attended by EFN in Kigali in June 2016. The launch of the ACP Press Club Federation was also held in Kigali in October 2016.During the period 1 January 2016 to 14 July 2017, a total of 12 complaints were received by the Media Ombudsman.The Media Ombudsman will no longer adjudicate complaints against non-members. All media institutions are thus requested to sign up in order to benefit from the speedy and inexpensive dispute resolution provided by an internationally recognised model of self-regulation. STAFF REPORTER

Ailonga to lead EFN

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-01

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Ailonga to lead EFN

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-01

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