Regional media take stock

MEDIA practitioners, policy makers and academics from all over the southern African region have been meeting in Windhoek since Monday to discuss the need for developing ethical guidelines and self-regulation to enhance professional standards.

Media standards in the region were generally perceived as low, in terms of basic technical standards as well as content. There was also a feeling that not only do most media practitioners lack proper training and a sound understanding of the role of the media in society and in advancing the values of democracy and good governance, but their ethical conduct was also often questionable.The perceived deterioration of media professionalism has given some governments in the region the opportunity to make media practitioners the scapegoats for their own weaknesses and corrupt practices.This tendency was also reflected in the fact that some governments have been pushing for state-imposed media accountability bodies as a way of regulating the media and media practitioners.The annual Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) conference is looking at ways to put in place media accountability bodies to self-regulate the industry.During the deliberations, the delegates are also reviewing the SADC media landscape with regard to ethics and professionalism in the print and broadcast media.Particular challenges include defining the fine line between ethics and free expression and whether or not media ethics are indeed global.The delegates have further examined issues confronting the media and attempted to devise a strategy on how to further professionalism and ethics.Today, the conference is expected to look at how the media in the region report on HIV and AIDS, gender, poverty, Africa and the ethical implications thereof.There was also a feeling that not only do most media practitioners lack proper training and a sound understanding of the role of the media in society and in advancing the values of democracy and good governance, but their ethical conduct was also often questionable.The perceived deterioration of media professionalism has given some governments in the region the opportunity to make media practitioners the scapegoats for their own weaknesses and corrupt practices.This tendency was also reflected in the fact that some governments have been pushing for state-imposed media accountability bodies as a way of regulating the media and media practitioners.The annual Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) conference is looking at ways to put in place media accountability bodies to self-regulate the industry.During the deliberations, the delegates are also reviewing the SADC media landscape with regard to ethics and professionalism in the print and broadcast media.Particular challenges include defining the fine line between ethics and free expression and whether or not media ethics are indeed global.The delegates have further examined issues confronting the media and attempted to devise a strategy on how to further professionalism and ethics.Today, the conference is expected to look at how the media in the region report on HIV and AIDS, gender, poverty, Africa and the ethical implications thereof.