Metro

Media under siege: How political agendas threaten truthful reporting in Zambia

Published

6 days ago

September 13, 2024

The fundamental principles of ethical journalism—objectivity, precision, accuracy, conscience, fairness, impartiality, humanity, transparency and serving the public interest—are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the profession.

These principles can only be fully realised when a story is entirely truthful, as truth is one of the most essential qualities a journalist must uphold.

Bill Kovach, co-author of “The Elements of Journalism,” strongly advocated for what he described as journalistic ‘truth.’

“Journalistic truth is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts,” he stated.

Organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) also emphasise truth as the cornerstone of ethical journalism in their Code of Ethics.

Although no single person can claim ownership of this idea, it was a fundamental principle embedded in journalism’s ethical framework.

This raises a critical question: Why is a profession dedicated to uncovering the truth often among the most persecuted? The answer is straightforward: some individuals prefer not to have their personal truths exposed publicly.

While everyone has a right to privacy, public offices and the management of public resources are not exempt from scrutiny.

In Zambia, for instance, information from public offices was accessible if the correct legal procedures are followed, including by journalists.

The situation changes dramatically when political agendas take precedence over democratic freedoms.

State efforts to control the media manifest through monitoring, censorship and restrictions on what journalists can report and how they should report it.

“In Zambia, media freedom has been increasingly under threat during election periods, with journalists being barred from covering certain events or facing harassment,” Reporters Without Borders noted.

This threat was exemplified by the suspension of Zambia’s private media house Prime TV, which occurred shortly after the Patriotic Front party, led by former President Edgar Lungu, accused it of bias and broadcasting “propaganda disguised as news.”

Arnaud Froger, head of RSF’s Africa desk, criticized the suspension, arguing that it reflected the media regulator’s role as a government tool.

He stated that such actions deprived many Zambians of a critical news source and undermined media pluralism essential for credible elections.

“The Zambian authorities must stop penalising the media and must terminate this arbitrary suspension immediately,” Froger urged.

The International Federation of Journalists reported that journalists investigating corruption in Zambia face severe challenges, including threats and intimidation.

These actions created a chilling effect on the media’s ability to hold power to account.

In Zambia, ethical journalism is often constrained by political interference, particularly regarding sensitive topics such as political reporting, corruption involving political figures, legal and administrative barriers, and interference by security forces.

While journalists are legally free to report on these issues, the involvement of certain individuals or groups often creates barriers.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) claims that journalists are free to report on such matters without fear.

Although all political groups make similar claims, the reality of whether the UPND will genuinely allow independent journalistic operations without seeking public relations benefits remains to be seen.

The true test of this commitment will likely become clearer in the 2025-2026 period.

This story is sponsored by Project Aliyense.

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Metro

Nigerian govt to jail private employers paying below N70,000 minimum wage

Published

6 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian government has vowed to prosecute and possibly jail private employers who pay their workers below the N70,000 minimum wage recently approved for workers in the country.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, who stated this while speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria held in Lagos on Wednesday, called on agencies recruiting for the private sector to adhere to the N70,000 minimum wage, warning that any deviation would not be tolerated.

Abubakar said the new minimum wage was necessary to address the current economic reality, emphasising that no Nigerian worker, whether in government or private employment, should be paid less than the minimum wage.

“The minimum wage is now a law, and as a result, it is a punishable crime for any employer to pay less than N70,000 to any of its workers,” he stated.

“The private employment agencies should make it compulsory in any contract they take from their principal that their workers should not earn less than the minimum wage. The least paid worker in Nigeria should earn N70,000, and I think that should be after all deductions.

“The minimum wage is a law, and you can be jailed if you fail to implement it. The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the least paid worker goes home with N70,000.”

Metro

Combating misinformation, media deception

Published

22 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The proliferation of misinformation, disinformation and fake news has become a pressing global concern and Zambia, like many other African countries, is not immune.

Misinformation refers to the unintentional spread of false information, while disinformation is deliberately fabricated to deceive, according to the Oxford Dictionary.

Fake news often encompassed both, usually with malicious intent.

Elizabeth Riziki, National Director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)-Tanzania, identified several factors contributing to information disorders globally, including in Zambia.

“These include barriers to accessing information, an information gap between urban and rural communities, government control of the media and youth unemployment,” Riziki said.

The spread of false information has far-reaching consequences, such as eroding trust in institutions, fueling social unrest and undermining democracy.

To mitigate these risks, Zambia needs to take proactive measures to sanitise its media space.

Prisiel Samu, Programmes Coordinator at ZimFact, noted that individuals with internet access are often involved in spreading fake news.

“Governments can play a leading role by regulating social media platforms, which have become breeding grounds for misinformation,” Samu stated.

In Zambia, the rise of social media and online platforms had created an environment conducive to the spread of false information, significantly impacting public discourse, policy-making and national security.

The consequences of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news in Zambia included undermining confidence in institutions, leaders and media outlets.

A study by researcher Gregory Gondwe, titled “Audience Perception of Fake News in Zambia: Examining the Relationship Between Media Literacy and News Believability,” suggested that formal education had a limited impact on detecting fake news.

Instead, the credibility of news sources was found to be an insignificant factor in determining trustworthiness.

Fabricated stories often incited violence, xenophobia, and electoral manipulation, disrupt markets, harm businesses and deter investment.

To combat these issues, Zambia must adopt a multi-faceted approach, including establishing a regulatory body to enforce ethical journalism and online content standards.

The Zambian government has recently announced a crackdown on the misuse of social media under Section 54 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021.

This crackdown extended to administrators of WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms, who are reminded of their legal responsibilities and the potential consequences of allowing harmful content.

“WhatsApp group administrators must curtail postings that are illegal and in bad faith, as they will be held responsible for the publication of such information,” cautioned Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati.

Various stakeholders have proposed several measures to address misinformation, including supporting independent fact-checking initiatives, promoting transparency in media ownership and funding, protecting individuals who expose misinformation and encouraging media outlets to adhere to ethical standards.

Additionally, educating citizens on critical thinking, media literacy, and fact-checking skills was crucial.

By implementing these measures, Zambia aims to foster a media environment that values truth, accuracy, and informed discourse.

This story is sponsored by Project Aliyense.