EDITORIAL: Subsidies needed in the media sector

There is this widely held view – mostly propagated in Africa – that independent media and governments make strange bedfellows. It is mostly spread by human rights organisations and media interest groups to discourage African media form accepting any help from governments. They allege that receiving government money is like holding poisoned ivy and should be shunned at all costs. But that concept is only held for developing countries. Most major European media outlets receive government subsidies unashamedly, otherwise they would not survive. The media houses come in two shades; those that remain on the professional and ethical path, and those that tend to bend the rules at the bequest of the paymaster. They will not hesitate to unethically influence public opinion if it serves theirs and their governments’ interests. In Africa, it is the other way round. Financially challenged media houses use all means necessary to keep running. They willingly receive “brown envelopes” and that erodes their morals. In the just ended 8th Media Dialogue that coincided with the African Information Day, that took part in Kigali this week, the 2016 Media Barometer was also unveiled. The issue of financial constraints among local media houses was pointed out to be one of the major driving forces behind unethical malpractices. So, will government’s financial intervention change the tide? Some years ago, a media fund was mulled to help media develop, but it somehow suffered a mysterious death. Whatever the case, the fund had some grey areas: How would it be allocated and on what basis? However well-meant, it is highly doubtful it would have a major impact. Instead of financial handouts, it would be better to think about friendlier tax regimes for materials and equipment needed in the industry, but financial assistance wouldn’t hurt either.

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EDITORIAL: Subsidies needed in the media sector