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Archive -Seychelles

Editors voice out concerns in first forum |24 September 2013

The first editors’ forum in full swing

The media is considered as a mirror of the modern society and to some it shapes our lives, meaning it is as necessary as food and clothing, while for others it serves as watchdog and offers voice to the voiceless.

As all media organisations in the world face different issues at different levels, heads of media houses in Seychelles have voiced out their concerns, especially what is stopping them from discharging their roles as the fourth estate in being the guardian of the Seychelles democracy.

That was during yesterday’s first editors’ forum organised by the Seychelles Media Commission (SMC) and chaired by its chairperson and chief executive Ibrahim Afif.

Also present at yesterday’s forum at the International Conference Centre were other SMC members – secretary Larrey Chetty, Jean-Claude Matombé, Marie-Reine Hoareau and Marina Cétoupe (all three members).

In his remarks, Mr Afif said that the commission has noted because press freedom and freedom of expression are relatively new to Seychelles, the language used at times in publications goes below the bar of decency, especially in a small society like ours.

He reminded editors that it is important for all media houses to maintain a sense of decency when giving news to their audience.

“The SMC doesn’t act in bad faith when it issues a suggestion to a particular newspaper or any media outlet to retract what has been written or said. The SMC is not a policeman coming after you. It wants to collaborate with all media houses whenever it receives complaints,” said Mr Afif.

Among the other issues discussed were lack of accuracy (fabricated stories), expectations of the media in respect of the SMC, a media ward, the need to have a media school, revamping the Seychelles Media Association, as well as getting ministries and other governmental departments to be more media friendly.

On this note Mr Afif agreed with the editors that government officials have to come out early in giving information as “timely information helps to diffuse a situation”, he said.

Mr Afif told the editors that “people will judge you (the editors of newspapers and broadcasting houses) well if you are credible. Every newspaper, radio and television broadcasters have their own agenda, but the most important thing is to speak the truth”.

Speaking and writing the truth is very important and critics say that "journalistic truth" is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts.
 
It is also important for media outlets to come out with the truth as the media influences society in many ways, by helping people get information about a lot of things and also forming opinions and making judgments regarding various issues.

We all can, wherever we are, draw something from the media as it keeps us updated and informed about what is happening around us and the world.

A body corporate established by the Seychelles Media Commission Act 2010, which was approved by the National Assembly of Seychelles on December 21, 2010, the SMC’s object is to preserve the freedom of the media, improve and maintain high standards of journalism in Seychelles, require publishers of newspapers, radio and television broadcasters, news agencies and journalists to respect human dignity, freedom from discrimination on any grounds, except as are necessary in a democratic society, and to maintain high standards of integrity and good taste.  
Its functions include:

• providing an independent arbitration medium between different types of media organisation and between members of the public and media organisations;
• promoting the independence of the print and electronic media;

• formulating in consultation with the Seychelles Media Association, a Code of Conduct for publishers of newspapers, radio and television broadcasters, news agencies, publishers of online publications including blogs, particularly those emanating from servers hosted in Seychelles, and journalists, and publish the Code of Conduct as prescribed;
• monitoring adherence to the Code of Conduct and require compliance by all concerned;

• monitoring compliance by all media of constitutional and legal obligations in force in Seychelles in respect of media freedom and expression;

• monitoring any development likely to restrict the dissemination of information, including expression of opinions on matters of public interest and importance, and assist in resolving them;
• defending the constitutional right of the citizens to accurate, truthful and timely information;

• assisting journalists and broadcasters in developing and maintaining high standards of integrity in the collection and dissemination of news and information in and about Seychelles;
• assisting and encouraging the interaction between local media organisations and foreign media organisations, including training institutions, with the object of improving the standard of journalism in Seychelles;

• receiving complaints from members of the public relating to any infringement of the individual's right to privacy by journalists or agents of media organisations and sanctions journalists or media organisations according to law;

• promoting a proper functional relationship among all classes of persons engaged in print and electronic media in Seychelles;
• promoting the development of privately-owned print and broadcasting media;

• undertaking such other activities within its mandate as may be assigned to the commission by the Government including but not limited to;

•reviewing of existing legislation governing broadcasting and the print media and making recommendations to the government with a view of bringing them in line with the Constitution and current trends as may be appropriate;   
 
• reviewing and making recommendations to the government on licence applications to open radio or television stations or to publish newspapers and similar print publications; and
•maintaining of a national database of media practitioners and institutions.

 

 

 

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