“Journalists need accurate and credible government info”

The Executive Mayor of Vhembe District Municipality, Mr Falaza Mdaka said that the media has a significantly important role in facilitating the free flow of information between government and the members of the community.

Mdaka was addressing government communicators and journalists during the Second Limpopo Communication and Media Indaba held at the University of Venda last Thursday. He said that the government also acknowledges and accepts the role of the media as a watchdog for the society, keeping government under constant check and subjecting it to rigorous scrutiny. "It is our view that for the media to play its role effectively, it needs to be properly appraised of the work of government and understand how policies and programmes are formulated and how they impact on the lives of the people. Journalists need accurate and credible government information to write balanced reports and intelligent credible political comment. Access to information and reliable government sources is of vital importance in this regard."

Mdaka said that the Indaba should be of interest to all communicators and journalists who are determined to see stability and progress in the country. "This media indaba comes at a time when our country has just won the World Rugby Cup, and also held a successful preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup, events which are no small feat given the enormous challenges which our country is facing in the field of sports. We have also won the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, an opportunity which offers both media and our government communicators a great platform to communicate the good that our country presents. For tourists and investors to come back to our province and country, we need communicators and journalists who are prepared to give information freely."

Among other topics presented during the indaba, the CEO of the Film and Publication Board, Ms Shokis Bopape-Dlomo spoke about the impact of Films and Publication Act to Communication. The Group Executive (Corporate Affairs) of the Allied Electronics Limited (Altron), Mr Onkgopotse Tabane spoke on media and diversity and the broad inspiration of the society.

At the end, the delegates resolved that communicators and journalists should always adhere to professional ethics in the line of duty. Communicators were also warned to always be available when pressed for comments by journalists. It was also agreed that communicators and journalists need to understand each other better as they serve the same community.

News - Date: 21 December 2007

Wilson Dzebu

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