Misa critical of NBC ‘propaganda’

THE Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Namibia has expressed concern over Government broadcasting interference and ethical standards of the media in the country.

Misa Namibia is committed to promoting and advancing media freedom in the country. Officiating at the launch of the Africa Media Barometer (AMB) at Windhoek on Friday, Misa Namibia Chairman, Robin Tyson, said Misa pressed for the transformation of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) from a Government department with ministerially-appointed board members into a broadcaster that involves the public at all levels of decision making.When asked whether the regulatory body for broadcasting was independent and whether members of the National Communications Commission (NCC) where chosen transparently and involving civil society, Tyson said: “We had to answer no.”.But Tyson praised the country for having the tolerance to allow so many different voices to express themselves in so many different ways.The AMB panel discussed transparency and the dependency of broadcasting regulation and ethical standards of media practitioners.The NBC has become a Government mouthpiece, since priority coverage is given to the activities of the President and former president, he said.Tyson illustrated his point by describing how the NBC has become a Government mouthpiece.”On the night following the tragic suicide of Lazarus Kandara, it was, along with the resignation of Deputy Minister Kapia, surely the story of the year, if not the decade.However, the following evening neither of these stories led NBC TV news.”Tyson said the first 10 minutes of the news was dedicated to the return of President Hifikepunye Pohamba from a Harare trade fair, and a water project initiated by former President Nujoma in the North.”This patent propaganda obviously loses the Corporation credibility, viewers, and, of course, advertising revenue,” Tyson said.Tyson said a code of ethics and professional standards of media practitioners, which are enforced by self-regulatory bodies, are critical in the country.AMB is the first in-depth and comprehensive description and measurement system for national media environments on the African continent.Although there is an urgent need for the media to regulate themselves – both to prevent Government stepping in to enforce a State-controlled regulatory body and to provide a channel for readers, listeners and viewers to lodge complaints – the media in the country do not see this as a priority, the AMB Namibia report stated.Officiating at the launch of the Africa Media Barometer (AMB) at Windhoek on Friday, Misa Namibia Chairman, Robin Tyson, said Misa pressed for the transformation of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) from a Government department with ministerially-appointed board members into a broadcaster that involves the public at all levels of decision making.When asked whether the regulatory body for broadcasting was independent and whether members of the National Communications Commission (NCC) where chosen transparently and involving civil society, Tyson said: “We had to answer no.”.But Tyson praised the country for having the tolerance to allow so many different voices to express themselves in so many different ways.The AMB panel discussed transparency and the dependency of broadcasting regulation and ethical standards of media practitioners.The NBC has become a Government mouthpiece, since priority coverage is given to the activities of the President and former president, he said.Tyson illustrated his point by describing how the NBC has become a Government mouthpiece.”On the night following the tragic suicide of Lazarus Kandara, it was, along with the resignation of Deputy Minister Kapia, surely the story of the year, if not the decade.However, the following evening neither of these stories led NBC TV news.”Tyson said the first 10 minutes of the news was dedicated to the return of President Hifikepunye Pohamba from a Harare trade fair, and a water project initiated by former President Nujoma in the North.”This patent propaganda obviously loses the Corporation credibility, viewers, and, of course, advertising revenue,” Tyson said.Tyson said a code of ethics and professional standards of media practitioners, which are enforced by self-regulatory bodies, are critical in the country.AMB is the first in-depth and comprehensive description and measurement system for national media environments on the African continent.Although there is an urgent need for the media to regulate themselves – both to prevent Government stepping in to enforce a State-controlled regulatory body and to provide a channel for readers, listeners and viewers to lodge complaints – the media in the country do not see this as a priority, the AMB Namibia report stated.