Zambia Media Women Association Chairperson Felistus Chipako has cautioned journalists in the nation to avoid aligning themselves to preferred political parties ahead of the August 11, 2016 general elections.
Ms Chipako said instead journalists should only abide to media ethics which they learn at school as opposed to supporting certain political parties.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, Ms Chipako said that some journalists find themselves in conflict with the law when they decided to incline to certain parties of their choice.
Ms Chipako said it is important that journalists report truthfully and accurately as demanded by their profession .
She reminded media personnel that the role of journalists is to inform, educate and entertain the masses as opposed to behaving like political party cadres.
And Press Association of Zambia(PAZA) president Andrew Sakala said journalists should put public interest first in their reporting.
Mr Sakala said it is wrong for any reporter to support a political party of their choice especially this time when the nation is headed towards general elections.
Mr Sakala warned that journalists in a habit of supporting preferred parties should only blame themselves when they are visited by the law.
He pointed out that the Electoral Code of Conduct demands for equitable coverage by all journalists during elections and throughout their career.
Just say Chilufya Tayali’s name
New York Times just endorsed Hilary Clinton, nothing wrong with that
Don’t be naïve, bwana. How are they going to get jobs as press attaches, PSs and Special Assistants at state house if they don’t align themselves? Ask the POST team, Chellah, Kabwela, Chanda, Malupenga, Kangwa, Mukwita and many more. Don’t bury your head in the sand. The system is rotten.
Why do these “professionals” fail to state things as they are? ZNBC, Daily Mail, Times are public media whose mandate is to report to general populace satisfaction. Private media the world over are biased to platforms they believe in or agree with. There’s media that’s pro capitalist, pro semitic, anti gay, etc. What they are taught in school is to be fair (even as subjective as they term maybe). So don’t threaten young journalists, like Funga, with the law, just condemn the public media for failing to fulfil their mandate.
Radio Phoenix is now a UPND mouth piece after the Supreme Leader HH of the UPND acquired the majority shareholding at the Radio Station and their news content has really being below standards nowadays compared to new private radio stations which have come on the scene recently. Radio Phoenix news content became compromised after the dismissal of the News Editor one Billy Kazoka…
Who does not dance to the tune of she or he who feeds them with bread?