via Govt implores mainstream media to be patriotic | The Herald by Hebert Zharare September 21, 2013
GOVERNMENT has implored all mainstream media organisations in Zimbabwe to be patriotic and uphold national interests and ethos as espoused by the country’s new supreme law.Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, said this yesterday as he addressed senior editors, managers and journalists from all media organisations in Zimbabwe in his first engagement with them after his appointment as minister.
“We make the assumption that the media elsewhere in countries that came into existence before us are inextricably intertwined — their existence, their conduct is tied to the history and the founding of the country in which they operate.
“That is before they tell a story, before they report about anything, there are certain fundamental issues relating to whose media are we talking about —which has to do with the country with where they belong.
“And from our point of view we make this presumption that there is enough evidence to show that in the American mainstream media there is no shortage of the lunatic fringe media in any country and that the mainstream media, we take you here as the mainstream media.
“The mainstream media in other countries cannot be separated from the fundamental values, ideals and ethos that make that country. And we make a presumption that every country has something fundamental about it in terms of founding values and ethos.
“So for the mainstream media, we make this presumption. Which is why we believe for example when America goes to war, its mainstream media follows the flag and it gets embedded into the military. It becomes part of it, it never says this military should be reformed,”
Said Prof Moyo, the US media remains patriotic during the military expeditions and will never say anything negative about their country.
“It (the media in America) never say this military must be reformed. It encounters all sorts of things this military will be doing there as they are fighting but when it comes back it tells the story, packages the story, whether its text, voice, email or audio, it packages it in a manner that does not shake the fundamental values and it decides when to say this and that. We make this presumption.
“When we look at the experiences of the countries that have been there before us and some which are very developed and influence our narratives, I would say the mainstream media in those countries is part of the ruling elite, you cannot separate them from the ruling elite.”
He said there was no conflict between the mainstream media and the American and British establishments respectively, adding they “eat the same things when they go to rallies. They are the same”.
Prof Moyo said it was against this background that media and the Government were supposed to find each other, adding the people were supposed to forget the past experience.
“It is important to reflect on what we have in common about us, which is our starting point as a ministry, which is our starting point as Zimbabwe.
“What is it that brings us together as a country as opposed to what might generate different views.
“There has to be something that must be important to each and everybody of us — and it is that which gives rise to Government, that which gives rise to collective enterprise. And I have a feeling especially now, unlike before we have had an opportunity to engage as the very start.
“If before, we had had an opportunity similar to this one, I am sure that at least we would have agreed on some common cause, common purpose and then have a shared understanding,” he said.
Earlier on the media representatives were given the opportunity to present the issues that they wanted the ministry to immediately deal with that had for long, been impacting on the industry.
Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, that includes media representative bodies (Media Institute of Southern Africa and Zimbabwe Union of Journalists among others) in the country’s co-ordinator, Ms Patience Zirima, presented the concerns of the media and urged Government ensure freedom of expression and freedom of the media (section 61) and Access to Information (Section 62).
However, Prof Moyo said in as much as the Media Alliance was more concerned section 61 and 62 of the Constitution, as Government, they were concerned with upholding all the 345 Sections of the supreme law.
He said chief among the key sections the media was supposed to uphold Section 3 (1) (i) that talked about the founding values and principles of the liberation struggle: “recognition of and respect for the liberation struggle.”
He said the media was supposed to note Section 90 that outlined the duties of the President and Section 92 that explained the Election of the President and Vice President.
COMMENTS
He said there was no conflict between the mainstream media and the American and British establishments respectively, adding they “eat the same things when they go to rallies. They are the same”.
!!!? Are we on the same planet?
What utter drivel from this man who continues to embarrass genuine professors everywhere. Richard Nixon resigned from the US presidency because the American press did their job of investigating and reporting his misdeeds. How is this for “eating the same things” as the establishment. When journalists try to investigate events in Zimbabwe they are arrested, followed by the CIO or have their premises bombed – ask Geoff Nyarota. No surprise anyway from the serial flip-flopper; he has to sing for his supper.
Dr Edson Zvogbo described the Access to Information and Privacy Act (AIPA), which was crafted by Jonathan Moyo, as the most severe assault on our liberty in the history of this nation.
As a matter of fact, the American media exposed the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US servicemen in Abu Ghraib prison.
The public media is there as a check and balance to the abuse of executive power and not to get into bed with them.
We do not need to be lectured on how to do our jobs, they do a lot of that at media school. What we need is real protection and liberty to tell the story our readers want to hear. If a journo fibs, let his paper, the law, and the public deal with hím/her. If a story sells, tell it! The flag should not be a blanket that hides misdeeds of those we have chosen to lead us. Patriotism, yes, blind loyalty never!
fake Prof uttering nonsense
Well said everyone!
Wharivel, utter drivel, assumptions and hogwash.
The media (newspaper, television, internet, radio and blogs) MUST be independent or as you say Kent State, Watergate, Vietnam, Murdochgate, Gukaruhindi, Hakudzokwi and Nikuv will never see the Light of Day!
“Cry, My Beloved Country”
What a load of matuvi. You will do what mugabe&co say you can do …. end of !!!
This guy lives in some sort of bubble… or maybe he’s just a bald-faced liar. Either way, it’s just one more example of the idiocy the rest of the world is seeing.
“Better to be quiet and have others think you wise, than open your mouth and prove yourself a fool.”