Guild of Editors seeks legal guidance on Media Council order

MEDIA|EDITORS|JOURNALISTS

Much as the Media Council set December 30 this year as the deadline for media houses to register journalists covering elections in Uganda, the Guild of Editors say this is not tenable and it is seeking legal advice. 

The Chairperson of the Guild of Editors Daniel Kalinaki, says they never agreed with the Council, that the media houses get to register their journalists with the Council.

"We raised our concerns over this registration with the Media Council; but they seem not to have heeded to our concerns. We are seeking legal advice and we shall give our position by Monday next week." 

The Editors' Guild Uganda, is an association of the industry's senior content managers and it was formed to increase journalists' fellowship at the senior level, increase public trust in the profession and defend journalists across the board.

The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) and Editors' Guild Uganda early this month noted that it was wrong for the Media Council to attempt to register journalists covering campaigns, weeks before the General elections in January. 

More, Kalinaki says that the Media Council, "Does not have a legal mandate to register journalists since it is not fully constituted as the law requires." 

Kalinaki also noted, that since the law that creates the Media Council was passed a lot has changed, "Meaning there should be wider consultations, before journalists are instructed to register under it."

His comments come days after Council instructed Media Houses to ensure that their teams are duly registered to cover the ongoing electoral process. 

The Media Council has also earlier warned, "All Mass Media Organisations that have commenced business and have not registered their Editors/ Producers and relevant staff with the Council, that pursuant to Section 5 of the Press and Journalist Act., such omission is a criminal offence and appropriate action will be taken." 

The Council, in its press statement explained that it has had deliberations with the Editors' Guild, which was opposed to the registration of journalists on grounds of the process' timeliness, mandate of the Council and the short deadline. 

Kalinaki agrees they met the Council, "But we did not agree that the registration goes ahead." 

The Media Council, before this meeting, had earlier directed on December 10, that all practicing journalists in Uganda should to register for accreditation or risk losing the right to cover the 2021 elections and other official events.

The same statement of December 10, this year; by the regulator, also noted that all foreign journalists intending to cover the forthcoming elections are required to get new accreditation cards and obtain a special media pass from the Media Council, "showing particular geographical or thematic areas of intended media coverage".

Electoral Commission's view 

Last week, the Electoral Commission announced its plans to accredit international and national media organisations and persons, who intend to observe and report on various activities during the electoral process. 

In a press statement by the EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, he said, "The Commission invites applications from media organisations or persons and freelance journalists who wish to observe and report on the electoral process." 

He added that applicants shall be required to prove that their registration status with the respective regulatory authorities is up to-date. "In particular, applicants shall be required to present a clearance from the Media Council." 

"Freelance journalists and photo agencies shall, in addition to the above, be required to attach a letter of recommendation from the media house(s) where they publish their material," he added. 

Byabakama also noted, "Journalists working for foreign organisations shall be required to obtain accreditation by the Media Council to practice in Uganda, before applying for accreditation to the Electoral Commission for purposes of observing/reporting the electoral process."

He says that the EC will provide all those accredited with written clearance, relevant information and identification tags for purposes of observing or reporting the various activities of the electoral process at the different District/ City Tally Centres. 

However, his press statement, came after editors from various media houses, challenged the Media Council legitimacy, timeliness, justification and relevancy of its registration of the journalists.