ARTICLE 19 trains Rwandan journalists on their changed role under new self-regulation law
ARTICLE 19 has helped train 100 journalists to take full advantage of their new rights and responsibilities under Rwanda’s press self-regulation law, enacted in March 2013 as a result of advocacy by ARTICLE 19 and its partners over the past decade.
The training and sensitization forums, which were the first ever held since the election of Commissioners to the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) was organised in collaboration with Rwanda Journalists Association (ARJ) and RMC.
“Article 4 of the Media Law recognised self-regulation and bestowed new duties on journalists to ensure that they set up professional standards which are to be enforced by the new self-regulation body, the Rwanda Media Commission. These forums targeting 100 journalists are aimed at sensitising them on their responsibilities to ensure that self-regulation in Rwanda works,” said Henry Maina ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa Director.
“While journalists campaigned heavily for media law amendments to allow self-regulation, not all are fully aware of the impact of the changes and responsibilities won by them. Therefore, these sensitisation forums are very important in ensuring self-regulation works and ethical journalism becomes entrenched in Rwanda. Our partnership with ARTICLE 19 will continue to deliver more sensitisation for Rwanda journalists,” said Gonzaga Umuganwa, ARJ Executive Secretary
Law N°02/2013 on regulating media (known as the Media law) was adopted on 11 March 2013, and brought a raft of media reforms among them the shift in regulation of the media to journalists, a function previously executed by the government through the Media High Council.
“The forums have helped me understand the media law and self-regulation framework in Rwanda. I have to inform all my colleagues what I have learnt, since self-regulation affects all of us,” noted one of the forum participants.
ARTICLE 19 will continue to assist media institutions in Rwanda to develop self-regulatory mechanisms that will ensure a more comprehensive approach to developing and upholding media ethics and protect freedom of expression.
ARTICLE 19 analysis of the media law can be accessed
– See more at: http://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/37323/en/rwanda:-article-19-trains-rwandan-journalists-on-their-changed-role-under-new-self-regulation-law#sthash.5qwkm0Fq.dpuf