The Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, has called on Media institutions to be professional in their reporting so as to ensure that it is not regulated by the government.
Speaking in interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today MISA Zambia President, Henry Kabwe urged Media institutions to be truthful, fair and objective in their reporting.
Mr. Kabwe called on Journalists to report about stories that promote development and peace in the country. He said the media should avoid being political but report on development issues that are helpful to the nation and the public.
“Journalists must play their role of providing the public with informative, entertaining and educative materials as opposed to being political,” said Mr. Kabwe.
He explained that Journalists should avoid propagating agendas of political parties’ and bringing out issues in a political manner.
Mr. Kabwe noted that Media institutions should be responsible in their reporting and that they should avoid being biased.
He also urged politicians to provide the media with information that promotes peace, intelligence and developmental in nature as opposed to attacking each other.
Mr. Kabwe advised politicians to work together and avoid being emotional and personal.
He said politicians should be focused and learn to exchange ideas that are development oriented.
And commenting on the same matter Press Association of Zambia (PAZA),President, Andrew Sakala called on the public not only to focus on the negative aspect but also on the positive issues that the media report about.
Mr. Sakala noted that Journalists have been playing an important role of providing information to the public on Economical, Social and Political issues among other issues.
He said what the media report about is simply a reflection of society happenings and therefore it is vague general and wrong for one to condemn the media.
” Journalists should not be blamed for their reporting because they only bring to the attention of society the happening events”, said Mr. Sakala.
Mr. Sakala has called for a fundamental change in the way politicians exchange their ideas and views.
He added that media institutions have a right to support apolitical parties of their choice. He has since urged journalists to be professional, objective and truthful in their reporting.
ZANIS
Mr Kabwe’s statement is clear. But that of Mr Sakala is a can of contradictions. Does he know what he is talking about or was he misquoted?
Nedia houses? awe sure ichisungu ine champita. I really need to go back to school 😮
Too many Quacks in these private media houses.Radio stations worse batata.A person just knows playing stupid music is called a journalist.We need developmental information to change the mindset of the population .We are what our mind is feed. politicians are like ticks. they are always sucking without feeding the cow. Don’t cover them too much. inu a Sakala mwatisebanya. Sure Kabwe amupitene nzelu?