The media can regulate itself
May 10, 2010
THE information minister Kabakumba Matsiko, says Ugandan media cannot regulate itself because it “is still in its infancy†and needs nurturing and ‘guidance’ (The New Vision, May 4).
By Haruna Kanaabi
THE information minister Kabakumba Matsiko, says Ugandan media cannot regulate itself because it “is still in its infancy†and needs nurturing and ‘guidance’ (The New Vision, May 4).
Reading the minister’s arguments and those of people with similar thinking, it is clear that there is lack of understanding and appreciation of the principles of media self-regulation.
So what is self-regulation? Self regulation in any profession or sector entails the development and enforcement of rules by those whose conduct is to be governed, with the ultimate aim of improving the service offered to the consumers, claimants or in the case of the media — the public.
It requires standards to be set and agreed on by the individuals and institutions to which they will apply and the development of procedures and mechanism for enforcing them. Fundamental to self-regulation is the principle of voluntary compliance.
Self-regulation relies first and foremost on a common understanding by members of the values and ethics at the heart of their professional conduct.
It has the objectives of protecting journalists and holding them and the media outlets accountable to their profession and the public. It thrives on the professional code of conduct established by the profession, which serves to show the consumers that the media are accountable; will act responsibly as well as protecting the professional integrity.
It is an easy, quick, free and accessible mechanism, through which disputes between the media and the consumers are resolved. It is unlike the legal system which serves only the powerful, rich and elite.
Media self-regulation promotes, maintains and encourages professionalism and accountability by allowing everybody to challenge the conduct of the media. It builds people’s trust in the media which no legal regime can achieve.
Is there no desire by the Ugandan media to be credible, trustworthy and accountable to its readers? On the same page where the minister was quoted, was a column by the New Vision clearly indicating that the paper is striving to make “its coverage accurateâ€. This is self-regulation.
In 2006, 42 media associations and houses formed the Independent Media Council of Uganda (IMCU), a voluntary body through which they can hold themselves accountable. They also agreed on the Journalism Code of Ethics as the basis through on which their conduct would be judged. This is a clear indication that the media in Uganda can and are regulating themselves.
Not everything that is legal is professionally right and not everything that is illegal is professionally wrong. The Journalism Code of Ethics section 24.1 states: “The media shall strive to preserve the sanctity and impartiality of news. As such media houses shall not allow news bulletins to be sponsoredâ€. It is legal to have news bulletins sponsored, but professionally it is unethical.
The shortcomings and injustices committed by journalists can only be addressed through self-regulation. Instead of formulating laws designed “to provide for penalties and offences“ like the Press and Journalist Amendment Bill objective, the Government should support, strengthen and encourage the existing self-regulation mechanism through the Independent Media Council. The focus should be on professional development, not control. Initiatives taken by the media must be nurtured and supported and they are quite many.
The writer is the Ag executive secretary of the Independent Media Council of Uganda
THE information minister Kabakumba Matsiko, says Ugandan media cannot regulate itself because it “is still in its infancy†and needs nurturing and ‘guidance’ (The New Vision, May 4).
Reading the minister’s arguments and those of people with similar thinking, it is clear that there is lack of understanding and appreciation of the principles of media self-regulation.
So what is self-regulation? Self regulation in any profession or sector entails the development and enforcement of rules by those whose conduct is to be governed, with the ultimate aim of improving the service offered to the consumers, claimants or in the case of the media — the public.
It requires standards to be set and agreed on by the individuals and institutions to which they will apply and the development of procedures and mechanism for enforcing them. Fundamental to self-regulation is the principle of voluntary compliance.
Self-regulation relies first and foremost on a common understanding by members of the values and ethics at the heart of their professional conduct.
It has the objectives of protecting journalists and holding them and the media outlets accountable to their profession and the public. It thrives on the professional code of conduct established by the profession, which serves to show the consumers that the media are accountable; will act responsibly as well as protecting the professional integrity.
It is an easy, quick, free and accessible mechanism, through which disputes between the media and the consumers are resolved. It is unlike the legal system which serves only the powerful, rich and elite.
Media self-regulation promotes, maintains and encourages professionalism and accountability by allowing everybody to challenge the conduct of the media. It builds people’s trust in the media which no legal regime can achieve.
Is there no desire by the Ugandan media to be credible, trustworthy and accountable to its readers? On the same page where the minister was quoted, was a column by the New Vision clearly indicating that the paper is striving to make “its coverage accurateâ€. This is self-regulation.
In 2006, 42 media associations and houses formed the Independent Media Council of Uganda (IMCU), a voluntary body through which they can hold themselves accountable. They also agreed on the Journalism Code of Ethics as the basis through on which their conduct would be judged. This is a clear indication that the media in Uganda can and are regulating themselves.
Not everything that is legal is professionally right and not everything that is illegal is professionally wrong. The Journalism Code of Ethics section 24.1 states: “The media shall strive to preserve the sanctity and impartiality of news. As such media houses shall not allow news bulletins to be sponsoredâ€. It is legal to have news bulletins sponsored, but professionally it is unethical.
The shortcomings and injustices committed by journalists can only be addressed through self-regulation. Instead of formulating laws designed “to provide for penalties and offences“ like the Press and Journalist Amendment Bill objective, the Government should support, strengthen and encourage the existing self-regulation mechanism through the Independent Media Council. The focus should be on professional development, not control. Initiatives taken by the media must be nurtured and supported and they are quite many.
The writer is the Ag executive secretary of the Independent Media Council of Uganda