Government has re-emphasised the need for the media to come up with a self-regulating mechanism that will protect the public from fake news and sensational journalism.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo says it is important for media self-regulation mechanism to be backed by law if it is to succeed.
Mr. Kasolo was speaking in Lusaka today when he officially opened the National Media Indaba on Media self-regulation.
He also urged media practitioners to come up with sustainable funding mechanism and put up a clause that will only allow the law to be amended during annual general meetings.
Meanwhile Media Liaison Committee Chairperson Enock Ngoma said the need for professionalism and good ethical practices for media in Zambia is critical.
Mr. Ngoma said the meeting will look at the need for the media to self-regulate and appealed to the government to protect the media from harassment from political party cadres.
He also thanked the ministry of information for having an open-door policy towards discussing issues that affect the media and finding a lasting solution towards sustaining media operations and ethical conduct.
Absolute necessity. Fake news is 21st century greatest crime. It seeks to manipulate the mind of people by misinformation. It’s an abuse of trust and a disservice to genuine media purveyors.
It isnt an absolute neccesity. The law should have nothing to do with this self regulation mechanism otherwise it will become a censorship tool
The problem is that some media strive on fake news. Without it they will collapse . I don’t see them regulating themselves . Fake news is retrogressive. I remember zambians where debating on information that wasn’t true for over three months!! Only to be told by the originator of the news that we was lying and he will reveal who told him to lie. Unfortunately he died before tellings.