ZAMBIA on Monday joined the rest of the global community in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day, with many voices emphasising the imperative need to ensure that only credible and verifiable information is disseminated to the public.
This important day is a reminder to governments about the need to respect media freedom while on the flip side, it reminds media practitioners to verily reflect on professional ethics and on the need for them to practice ethical journalism to the core.
This year, the commemoration is of paramount importance because Zambia goes to the polls in about three months and media practitioners will be faced with a daunting task of balancing coverage of opposition parties and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
This day also reminds not only journalists but also other stakeholders on professionals who have either been incapacitated or killed in the line of duty.
Even before delving into the nitty-gritty of the World Press Freedom Day, it will be important to trace the origins of this occasion.
Evidently, the World Press Freedom Day has its origins in a United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) conference held in Windhoek, Namibia in 1991.
Journalists and interest groups recall that the event ended on May 3 of that year with the adoption of the landmark Windhoek Declaration for the development of a free, independent and pluralistic media.
Thus, Monday marked 30 years, but the occasion is very much relevant even as the media landscape has tremendously changed with the advancement of technology, which has birthed citizen journalism.
Yes, journalists and many other players will recall that the Windhoek Declaration, stemming from a seminar held in 1991 in the Namibian capital, inspired regional declarations to promote a free, independent, and pluralistic media.
Fast forward 30 years on, the media in different parts of the world is faced with different challenges and it is in this breadth that the global media community needs to stand together and speak against injustices and also pick a leaf from countries where media freedom is flourishing.
The global theme ‘Information as a Public Good’ resonates well with progressive minds that are advocating for dissemination of credible, verifiable and factual information.
At the same time, journalists and other players must be allowed to disseminate information of public interest without unnecessary encumbrances from authorities and other elements.
Therefore, media professionals must eliminate fake stories while at the same time fighting for sufficient space to reach their target audiences.
Laws that are a hindrance are very counterproductive to the growth of the media industry and democracy in any country.
Intimidation and violence against journalists by political cadres not only in Zambia but elsewhere is a cancer that must be rooted out henceforth.
Media houses must remunerate their journalists well and ensure that they have all the tools at their disposal to disseminate information.
Many a time, journalism standards tend to fall because practitioners are poorly paid and remain at the whim of those wielding power and wealth.
It is also important to bear in mind that the emergence of digital media has brought both advantages and disadvantages.
As a result of the emergence of digital media, citizen journalism is thriving.
It also known as collaborative media, participatory journalism or street journalism as any person can disseminate information from a gadget.
This has birthed fake news, which has been difficult to deal with.
It is, therefore, incumbent upon media practitioners to stand up and do that which is right so that those in political power do not take advantage of unprofessional conduct to muzzle the media.
