The Independent Broadcasting Authority has admitted that regulating online media is a challenge.
IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma observed that majority of online publications covering Zambia are not adhering to high ethical standards.
Ms. Mapoma said regulating online publications have proven to be a challenge because the current IBA Act does not have provisions for online media regulation.
“We would like to find a way of regulating online media although it is true that the current law which creates the IBA has nothing on online media regulation, going forward, we would like to see how we could extend our mandate to regulate online media,” Ms. Mapoma said in an interview.
She said the growth of online media presents a great opportunity for news dissemination across different platforms.
“We just need to find a way of channeling this opportunity that online media presents productively for the benefit of many people in Zambia,” she said.
Ms. Mapoma said the IBA has taken interest to study the content and ethical issues arising from online media.
“Admittedly, most of these online media outlets are falling short of ethical standards but what we are saying is there is room for improvement and as the IBA we want to take the lead and see how these outlets can be improved upon through regulation.”
josephine mapoma ate with kaunda in unip, ate with chiluba in mmd, ate with mwanawasa in mmd, ate with rb in mmd and is still eating with sata in pf. she knows where to touch
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‘most of these online media outlets are falling short of ethical standards.’ This gives me no clue to what needs regulating.
How do they fall short and how can you regulate freedom of speech?