BLOGGERS, EDITORS URGED TO ENSURE PUBLIC MAKES INFORMED CHOICE
Gasirigwa Sengiyumva from MISA Tanzania, giving briefly introduction about the training , asking editors and bloggers there expectation after training and the aim of the Training today .
Mr. James Malenga from National Organization of Legal Assistance(NORA), explaining about analysis of the ATI,RTI Law and importance on Election Reporting , Also a Glimpse at the guidelines on Media coverage of Elections in SADC Region(Role of Media in Elections)
Maxence Melo Managing Director - Jamii Media who talk about Brief analysis of the Cybercrime and Statistic laws and its effect on reporting Elections also the opportunity of Using ICT for access of information and reporting on Election plus risk involved.
Bloggers and Editors during the training.
By Gasirigwa G.S
Giving stories fair and balanced treatment, working within the specified limits of
laws and regulations, maintaining core values of the profession and ensuring
the public makes informed choices were among the messages that emerged during
the one day workshop for editors and bloggers in Dar es Salaam today.
A group of selected Dar es Salaam
based editors and bloggers were earlier trained on how to safely access and
share information during the October general election. The aim of the workshop
was to improve/enhance knowledge and skills of selected media personnel in
various outlets in order to enable them to access relevant information, cover
and report qualitatively as well as responsibly the 2015 general election.
Key presentations focused on the contents
of the Media Services Bill, Access to Information Law, Cybercrime and
Statistics Acts as well as the 2015 election broadcasting Code.
One of the facilitator James
Marenga (Advocate) highlighted the contents of the already tabled Media
Services Bill and the Access to Information Law and cautioned participants that
although these are not yet signed as Laws, the existing Newspaper Act of 1976
will punish them if they are not careful. “Our purpose is to lead people to
make informed choices by giving them relevant reportage of the campaigns and
the election but at the same time making sure that we are not contravening the
existing laws”, he said.
The media are required to provide
relevant information, analyse it and additionally offer substantive opinions to
the public, while also serving as a platform for debate and discussion.
Furthermore, the media shall fulfill their watchdog role by promoting transparency and thus preventing electoral fraud. Make reference to the TBC- “Uchaguzimajimboni” program in 2010 General Election.
Furthermore, the media shall fulfill their watchdog role by promoting transparency and thus preventing electoral fraud. Make reference to the TBC- “Uchaguzimajimboni” program in 2010 General Election.
Marenga highlighted that media
have a duty to provide election coverage that gives the voter comprehensive,
accurate and reliable information on all aspects of the electoral process.
This information will also help to ensure that the voters know and understand their democratic rights and exercise them free from fear, intimidation or coercion.
This information will also help to ensure that the voters know and understand their democratic rights and exercise them free from fear, intimidation or coercion.
“Many of you are not aware of the
existing content of the Cybercrime Act and the subsidiary legislation on
broadcasting that was gazzeted in June this year.
This will surely affect you and you shall go to jail if you are not careful. My appeal to you is to work safely within the existing law”, added MaxenceMelo from Jamii Media.
This will surely affect you and you shall go to jail if you are not careful. My appeal to you is to work safely within the existing law”, added MaxenceMelo from Jamii Media.
Blogger and Investigative
Journalist Danny Mbega openly said that, despite working in the industry for decades,
he wasn’t aware of so many things until today. His comments are echoed by
blogger Geofrey Ernest of Habari.Com who says among other things that if most
of these laws are in place, the future of Journalism is in jeopardy.
The training that took part in
Dar Es Salaam brought together 18 mainstream media editors and bloggers and was
supported by CIPESA, a Ugandan based organization that works to promote ICT
policies and access to information in Africa.
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