Parliament passes Media Practitioners Association Bill
The ongoing Parliament session has passed the Media Practitioners’ Association Bill of 2022. The Bill is now expected to be signed into law by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to get into operation. The Bill was presented by Minister for State President Kabo Morwaeng.
He indicated that its aim is to promote and protect the freedom and independence of the media and ensure the maintenance of high professional standards by making provision for the establishment of the Complaints and Disciplinary Committee which will receive, investigate and deal with complaints involving the media.
Morwaeng said the new law will provide for the registration of journalists and media enterprises and the professional bodies in the media fraternity.
According to the Minister, the Bill provides for the appointment of the Executive Director of the Media Practitioners Association and tenure of office.
Morwaeng indicated that the law will ensure that the Association is wholly independent and separate from the government and political parties, and prohibits the Association from political bias or interference.
“The Media Council established under section 3 of the repealed Act is hereby continued under the new name of Media Practitioners’ Association and shall continue to exist as if established under this Act.
“The Association shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, capable of suing and being sued in its own name. The objective of the Association is to promote and enhance ethical and profes
sional standards amongst journalists and media enterprises.
“It is meant to ensure cooperation between journalists, media enterprises, and other media stakeholders, with a view to exchanging information, sharing ideas, and dealing with any challenges facing the development of the media industry,” Morwaeng told Parliament.
He explained that the funds of the Association shall among others consist of members’ voluntary contributions and bequests; fees and other monies paid for services rendered by the Association and any money accruing to the Association arising from the performance of its functions under this Act, including levies paid by the professional bodies as may be prescribed.
On the registration of journalists, Morwaeng explained that a person shall apply to a professional body in the form and upon payment of a fee to be prescribed, to be registered as a member of a professional body under the Act, and to have his or her name entered in the register.
He said the person will be entered as a journalist if he/ she is an employee of a media enterprise, the membership of which is recognised by the professional body as furnishing a sufficient guarantee of the required academic knowledge of, and practical experience in journalism.
The Minister pointed out that the Association shall establish an Ethics and Conduct Committee which shall consist of five members of the Association.
“The functions of the Ethics Committee shall be to develop and issue a Code of Ethics for journalists and media enterprises which shall be consistent with international best practices.
“The Ethics Committee shall, after developing or reviewing the Code of Ethics, submit the Code of Ethics to an annual general meeting of the Association”.