Namibiaan on perustettu paikallinen Media Complaints Committee sekä sille valittu asiamies Clement Daniels. Komitea valvoo hyvää lehtimiestapaa ja sen toiminta perustuu median itsesääntelyyn, samaan tapaan kuin Julkisen Sanan Neuvosto Suomessa.
Viestintä ja Kehitys säätiö on ollut mukana tukemassa tätä kehitystyötä. Kevättalvella 2009 Namibiaan luotiin journalistien eettinen koodisto ja vuoden aikana on järjestetty sarja ammattietiikkaa ja eettisiä ohjeita käsitteleviä kansalaisyhteiskunta- ja journalistitapaamisia ja työpajoja. Vikesin yhteistyökumppanina Namibiassa ovat olleet MISA-Namibia ja Namibia Editor’s Forum.
MISA Namibian tiedote ( 13.11.2009):
“One of the major challenges the media faces is to uphold the right balance between serving he public interest and upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizen, be they private of public office holders.”
This was highlighted by Media Ombudsman Clement Daniels at the Launch and Introduction of the Media Ombudsman and the Media Complaints Committee ceremony on Friday 13 November 2009, in Windhoek.
Daniels goes on to say that despite the challenges in which the media operates, media practitioners, like any other profession, are expected to perform their work in an ethical and professional manner.
“In this way they can make a positive contribution towards the development and sustainability of freedom of expression and of the media, which is a fundamental requirement of a democratic society”, added.
The Media Ombudsman says to make self-regulation work it is important that the media practitioners know what is expected from them, and that the public should know the Code of Ethics, their rights as citizen, in relation to media and how to make complaints against the media.
Said Daniels: “It is for this reason that the Media Ombudsman will embark on a number of activities to promote the code of ethics and the complaints procedures to the general public to ensure that it is well known to the majority of Namibians.
Daniels stressed that the Ombudsman and the other complaints adjudicators will be independent form the Editors Forum of Namibia and the media in general, to enhance the integrity of procedures and encourages public participation.
“This however does not mean that the media should not support this self-regulation process, both morally as well as materially. Materially does not always mean hard cash, but other creative methods, such as free advertisement, distribution of material and hosting of public events”, Daniels said.
In view of the above, MISA Namibia has pledged its full support to Media Ombudsman and the Media Complaints Committee.
Acting National Director of MISA Namibia, Marbeline Mwashekele says in support of the Media Ombudsman, the organisation plans to host a number of workshops for journalists on the Code of Ethic, as well as workshop on media literacy and the roles of the Media Ombudsman for the public.
“We also intent to have road shows by the Media Ombudsman to explain the workings of the complaints mechanisms as well as the content of the Media Code of Ethics. In addition, we will develop miniature booklets with the Code of Ethics and the Complaints mechanisms, for distribution of journalists and the public”, Mwashekele explained.
