World Press Freedom Day was celebrated on May 3. It had as its theme Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media. Members of the media must welcome the government's move to remove section nine of the Libel and Defamation Act (chapter 11:16) which states that if "any person maliciously publishes any defamatory libel, upon conviction thereof he is liable to pay a fine and to imprisonment of one year." Of equal significance is the launch of the OJT programme aimed at aspiring media practitioners.
It is noteworthy that Unesco celebrated the 36th anniversary of World Radio Day on February 13. Radio, according to Unesco, continues to reach the widest audience worldwide and it is celebrated as a medium of communication "to improve international cooperation between broadcasters and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information and freedom of expression over the airwaves."
Unesco's Web site states that radio "can help people, including youth, to engage in discussions on topics that affect them. It can save lives during natural or human-made disasters; and it provides journalists with a platform to report facts and tell their stories."
While many of our local radio talk show hosts cannot be described as journalists, they certainly play a major role in communicating views and opinions via the airwaves. Many do not appreciate the nature of their responsibilities and have not been trained to understand their influential roles in the local community. It is painful to hear talk show hosts reprimand call-in listeners who express views other than their own.
Equally painful are some of the topics discussed on morning programmes that can best be described as verbal pornography!It would serve our radio journalists well to familiarise themselves with Unesco's high ideals regarding freedom of the press. Such familiarisation could only redound to the benefit of the OJTs.
John Henry
Petit Valley
