MACRA ORGANISES WORKSHOP FOR RESPONSIBLE BROADCASTING – Malawi Bizmalawi

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has organised a two day workshop to discuss with senior broadcasters on conflict management and responsible broadcasting.

The workshop took place at Lilongwe Hotel from at 25 to 26 September, where it was defined that a responsible journalist balances rights and responsibilities, peace builder, limited by laws, observing international instruments, morality and customary laws and practices.

Macra Director of finance, Ben Chitsonga said the Authority would always strive to ensure broadcasters adhere to broadcasting rules and regulations to foster peace. This week, the lawyer for Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa)-Malawi has confirmed that the High Court in Lilongwe has granted an injunction against the ban of phone-in programs pending judicial review.

Misa-Malawi applied for the injunction and judicial review of the matter on an argument that the ban of the radio programs violates freedom of the press, while Macra justified its ban due to what the authority called unethical and careless reporting of post-elections events as the main reason for the ban. A signed confirmation by Judge R.M Chinangwa says that the injunction is granted “until final determination of the judicial review matter”.