The Minister of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda has said that KBN Television station’s broadcasting of a private telephone conversation between two senior Government officials without verifying the authenticity of the recording with the people concerned is unprofessional.
In a statement released to the media, Ms. Chushi described the action as contrary to media professional ethics and conduct, which demands that a journalist ought to verify any information before publishing it.
“Government is, therefore, concerned that KBN found itself in conflict with the law on a matter that it could have avoided had it followed basic principles of journalism, ” the Minister said in a statement.
Below is the full statement
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESRPERSON HON. CHUSHI KASANDA, MP ON PROFESSIONALISM IN THE MEDIA
Government is concerned with the unprofessional conduct of some media houses in their reporting. A case in point is KBN Television station which broadcast a private telephone conversation between two senior Government officials without verifying the authenticity of the recording with the people concerned.
This is contrary to media professional ethics and conduct, which demands that a journalist ought to verify any information before publishing it. Government is, therefore, concerned that KBN found itself in conflict with the law on a matter that it could have avoided had it followed basic principles of journalism.
The media profession has adequate guidelines which if observed, can protect journalists from misinforming, misleading and infringing upon other people’s rights. It ought to be stressed that, media freedom is not absolute as it comes with responsibility on the part of the media which include verifying information before publishing it, balance, objectivity and accuracy.
This is even more crucial now in the wake of social media where people who are not journalists share information, some of which is not true. Journalists as professionals must guard against falling prey to publishing any information that they collect without verification.
The onset of social media has placed higher responsibility on the media never to compromise their ethical and professional conduct. I wish to restate Government’s commitment to freedom of the media as this is key in the promotion and preservation of democracy.
This can be demonstrated by Government’s hands-off approach to the media in which it is promoting media self regulation, editorial independence and access to information. With these and other reforms that Government is undertaking, the media is assured of freedom in its role of informing, educating and entertaining the public.
But in all this, the media is called upon to play its part by being responsible and professional in their work. I also wish to take this opportunity to advise the media to always seek clarification from designated offices on various national matters.
For all Presidential matters, the designated office is that of the Presidential Spokesperson, for all Government issues, the designated office is that of the Chief Government Spokesperson who is also the Minister of Information and Media, and for all party matters the responsible office is that of the Party Spokesperson.
This is to ensure a smooth flow of information to the public.
Hon. Chushi Kasanda, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
20th January, 2022
Atase imwe
But when such misconduct by the press targeted Lungu, you supported it. I didn’t support what the PF were doing but when media houses attack people who can’t defend themselves it’s the duty of every citizen to call them out. But you danced whenever Prime TV etc told obvious lies. Pembeleni mucilipo.
$50M fertilizer
This woman becomes more corrupt and uglier by the day. Glad twalilyapo when she still had sense and good looks under pf govt
Nope. Bad advice from the Minister. What we need is an independently constituted body within the journalistic industry to verify authenticity. Optionally, a legally sanctioned body away from government appointment that can equally do that. Better still, a team of digital experts who can confirm that a digital production or recording was not altered. Short of that, all that has been said here is bollocks to be honest.
This girl is making a mess out of it again …I mean how does the media verify a phone conversation, if I was on the phone with someone and I am a minister some journalist calls me to confirm that I was on the phone with so and so I would deny or not answer until I found out what it was about.
Kalok – The media house itself can contract experts to check the authencity of the recording
Kano nganibo. This makes sad reading that the champions of media freedom are now u turning on their promises. When we say this political party is a talk show. Org this is what we mean they have no clue what media freedom is. This is a public issue it is no longer private. Nshindano is a professional person these guys want to make him a cadre. This is the signature of Vasco da Gama. It is right there in front of us.
This US$50 million Bandit lady….how come she’s still working…so Justice is now very selective…Chushi Kasanda is a known fertilizer bandit…..anyway she’s employed by a demagogue President HH…
This makes sad reading. This lady has lamentably failed the system and the earlier BMW realizes the better for everyone. Under New Dark regime, media bazafyanta because BMW is allergic to open criticism. In front of camera promising freedom of speech and behind the scenes taking it away. NIPANO TULI!!!
Saulosi – Dont be childish…is it her who won the contract and now you are calling HH7 demogogue…let’s be objective.
I can smell a rat in ministers statement. The conversation is there for anyone to listen to. What would anyone be verifying… Chushi is wrong on this one.
This is disappointing. The UPND is acting in a similar manner to the previous regime… it makes for sad reading. If the minister were in opposition, would she approve of this action? That is all you need to know about whether this is a good thing.
Moreover, the government is keeping quiet about the conversation when they ought to address it directly. We do not want our institutions to erode. Media freedom today is still better than in the PF days, but these are dangerous signs.
Summoning KBN was to just to build a case to summon the suspects, so don’t be too fast to condemn Police.
Media is there as our eyes and ears to dig up the dirt and bring it out in the open. Do you think if they called the people concerned they would have admitted to the same convo? In fact they would have even threatened the same media and prevented the audio from seeing the light of day. Instead of targeting the whistle blowers, in this case the media , they should be busy with damage control.
Am sure both PF and UPND have a common understanding of freedom of speech today. They are acting the same way. This is not even a campaign year when the opposition become very provoking. Edgar could have been more tolerant than we thought. Imagine those pictures with big teeth people used to draw.
Hands off the media. Trying to defend the indefencible wont work.