Mbandaka: Provincial authorities and MONUSCO call upon journalists to show more professionalism

16 mai 2014

Mbandaka: Provincial authorities and MONUSCO call upon journalists to show more professionalism

Mbandaka, 13 May 2014 – Offering better working conditions to journalists, need for journalists to be independent in carrying out their profession in keeping with Media professional standards were the key substance of the message delivered on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day especially marked on 13 May in Equateur province, rather than 3 May as usual.

The whole of the Media houses and Regulation Bodies attended the ceremony presided over by the Governor a.d. interim of the province; in attendance also the provincial Minister of Medias and government spokesperson as well as the Chief a.d. interim of MONUSCO/Equateur. “Press freedom does not mean libertinism,” the provincial Minister of Media, Jeannine Otoho Makado denounced the blunders noticed in the majority of the local Medias in the province. To a Media environment featured by lack of independence and objectiveness, groundless accusations as well as confusion between rumor and truth, the Minister appealed to Media professionals to refrain from using awkward words and writings likely to stir social unrests.

Journalists’ Rights NGOs, namely “Journalistes en Danger (JED) and Association des Medias pour la Paix et le Développement en Equateur (AMEP),” on their part, denounced the deplorable social and economic conditions facing the journalists: lack of support from authorities, inadequate resources, political and administrative harassments. MONUSCO, on its part, pleaded with the authorities to provide support to the press. Suiting actions to words, the Mission offered hundreds notepads to each press organ based in Mbandaka. The provincial Governor a.i. as far as concerned pledged for the facilitation of the work of the journalists in Equateur. Setting the example, the provincial Government took the opportunity to donate fifteen bicycles to the Media Organs in Mbandaka and announced journalists’ refresher workshop to be held shortly in Mbandaka and building of a Press House to improve the work of the Medias.

MONUSCO/Jean-Tobie Okala