Govt committed to free, responsible media – Musoni

The Minister of Local Government has said the government is committed in supporting the development of free, dynamic and responsible media.James Musoni, under whose docket the media sector falls, yesterday said the government is determined to make use of advances in modern communication technology to reach out to every citizen for engagement and to ensure that Rwandans are connected to each other and to the world. “Our intention is to support the development of a media environment that is sensitive to our past, responsive to the present and that keeps us accountable as we work to deliver a bright future for all Rwandans,” he said in a statement released on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, due today.He said Rwanda continues to promote “safeguards for freedom and independence of the press and delivering on its pledge to promote accountability and foster public participation and engagement”.Citing the recently promulgated media related laws, particularly the Media law and Access to Information law, Minister Musoni added that these are “a testimony of Rwanda’s resolve to promote independence of the media and access to information as essential components of good governance and preconditions for durable economic, social and political development”. Key elements of the new media law include the recognition of self regulation whereby article 4 now provides that the Media Self Regulatory body will regulate the conduct of journalists and establish professional standards. Article 15 empowers the same entity to deal with violation of journalists’ rights. The new law also recognises the legal right of journalists to collect information; respect for the confidentiality of journalistic sources; to call on any resourceful person to provide information while, lifting some restrictions such as prohibitions on the use of unlawful methods to obtain or to disseminate information; neglecting essential information; and distorting ideas contained in an information or a text. To protect the rights of individuals, the law also recognixes the rights of reply, rectification and correction. There is now no requirement for journalists to hold particular academic qualifications, paving the way for a broader definition of who is a journalist and allowing freelancers to enjoy the same rights as employed journalists. The system of sanctions for the media has been liberalised, including the repeal of “suspension” and “closure of a publication” as penalties the statement added.

National

Govt committed to free, responsible media – Musoni