BY STAFF REPORTER AMERICAN media lawyer, Denise Leary has cautioned the Zimbabwean government against imposing restrictive media regulation, saying it has a bearing on freedom of speech and the media.
The former National Public Radio Attorney and deputy head of programming, Leary made the remarks during a Twitter Spaces discussion hosted by the United States embassy in Harare on Wednesday.
The discussion dissected journalism standards across the globe, and noted how ethics had evolved over time- from the September 9, 2001 attacks in the US to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Leary said restrictive media regulation undermines public trust in the media.
“Whenever (media) commissions are set up, you know we are talking about ethics and trust that is going to reflect what the prevailing public standards are, and of course, that is very much tied to public trust,” Leary said.
“You have to watch that the standards are not too restrictive and are flexible enough for news organisations to make mistakes as they try to report accurately.”
Zimbabwe recently enacted the Freedom of Information Act as part of a corterie of media reforms.
Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) director Loughty Dube and Jasper Mangwana of the Zimbabwe Media Commission were part of the panel which also focused on ways to keep news organisations honest and accountable.
Dube said the VMCZ had since 2007 pioneered media literacy initiatives to enhance public trust in the media as well as working to build the capacity of news organisations to report effectively.
Moderater Meg Riggs, who is also public affairs officer at the US embassy, said ruthless imagery depicted in the media had an effect on public participation in democratic processes.
“So instead of getting an engaged citizenry who feels informed and empowered, you get an enraged citizenry that feels at best apathetic and at worst pessimistic about being able to make a difference,” Riggs said.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
When you consent, your personal data will be used for personalization of ads
COMMENTS