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Adhere to ethical reporting, journalists told
2005-08-12 07:59:39
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
A call has been made to editors and senior journalists to get acquainted with the existing laws of the land as well as observing ethical reporting ahead of the general election scheduled for October 30 this year.
The call was made on Wednesday at a seminar on the ethical reporting and adherence to code of ethics, organised by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT).
Veteran Journalist Salim Said Salim had this to deliver to the participants: ’Learn and get familiar with the existing laws of the land so that you do not commit unnecessary offences. This will also help you in reporting the truth. We need credibility in reporting.’
He said the ignorance of the law and violation of journalism ethics was rampant, citing the use of children in commercial ads, as an example in violating ethics.
Ayoub Rioba, a lecturer from the Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication (IJMC), presenting his paper entitled ’Self-regulation as a Mechanism for Promoting Press Freedom’ said most Tanzanians were ignorant of the existing laws, and urged journalists to read extensively.
’Ignorance of law is not an excuse in any offence. Although some laws are not good, especially to journalists but we must learn and abide with them as we struggle to have them repealed,’ Rioba said.
The tutor also appealed to journalists to adhere to truth and become committed by objective reporting.
He also called on the journalists to use their pens well.
Said he: ’Although there have been some progress in terms of freedom of expression, more is required in broadening the freedom by fighting for the repeal of all oppressive laws.’
Another presenter, Pili Mtambalike from MCT said it was important for journalists to abide by ethics, and added that the media was a very powerful institution and as such carried enormous responsibilities.
’Codes of ethics are well regarded as the best instruments of self-regulation because it is believed that they can ward off the imposition of profession constraints, enhance the status of the members of the profession, and help to regulate behaviour,’ Mtambalike said.
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