By Abubakar Kanjoka
Kasungu, June 13, Mana: Executive Director for Media Council of Malawi (MCM), Moses Kaufa, has called for professionalism among journalists in reporting electoral processes, saying their role is vital in helping citizens make informed choices and fostering a peaceful political environment ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
Kaufa made the remarks on Thursday in Kasungu during a capacity-building workshop for reporters, which focused on election reporting, media ethics, and professional conduct.
He said that there are concerns that many media practitioners are not up to date with recent electoral developments, including newly enacted laws that govern their work during elections, a knowledge gap, he said poses a threat to the integrity of the whole electoral process.
“Citizens rely on media outlets for credible and accurate information to make informed decisions when electing leaders.
“With that in mind, journalists must maintain professionalism by disseminating truthful and accurate information to avoid misleading the public or triggering political unrest, and that is why today we thought of sharing some tips,” said Kaufa.
He also highlighted the importance of the training in promoting journalists’ safety during election coverage and in making them familiar with proper complaint-handling mechanisms in cases of professional infringement.
One of the participants, Topson Banda from Kasungu Community Radio Station, applauded MCM for the initiative, stating that the training will help reporters to prevent mistakes such as unbalanced reporting and misinformation.
“This is a turning point for us. It will give us an opportunity to improve and uphold ethical standards as we serve the public during this election period,” Banda said.
MCM organized the training with support from National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and UNESCO, under the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), which seeks to strengthen the capacity of community media houses and promote sustainable media operations.
