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Journalists question IFJ Secretary General's mission to Zimbabwe
MISA-Zimbabwe
September 04, 2008

Zimbabwean journalists last night quizzed the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Secretary General (SG), Aidan White on the non-consultative nature of his findings on the media environment in Zimbabwe.

White is in Zimbabwe on a mission to investigate the Zimbabwean media environment en route to the annual Highway Africa conference in Grahamstown, South Africa at the invitation of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ).

Speaking at the Harare Press Club, White emphasized the lack of professionalism in the Zimbabwean journalism fraternity and criticized media lobby groups such as the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ), Media Monitoring Project (MMPZ) among others, arguing that they should pull out from the space they are occupying in order for ZUJ to be the sole organization dealing with issues of media freedom in Zimbabwe.

White added that it was important for journalists to undertake advocacy and lobbying on issues related to media law and remuneration as well as to try as far as possible to reflect accurately the truth about Zimbabwe.

During the question and answer segment of the debate, White was quizzed on why his consultations were limited to only a single organization when he had the time to consult the majority of media lobbying organizations to appreciate the media environment better.

In his response White said he spoke only to organizations that spoke on behalf of journalists;

"I speak on behalf of journalists, so when I came here I wanted to get in-depth information from the organizations who speak on behalf of the journalists not the rest of the media because I get that information on a daily basis. I did not speak to organizations such as MISA and the MMPZ for that reason."

When asked whether he had the opportunity to meet with freelance journalists who are victims of the closure of a number of privately owned newspapers by the Zimbabwean government, White admitted to not having done so acknowledging that it was an oversight.

White accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and other international media for sensationalizing the Zimbabwean crisis, noting that they chose to broadcast from the South African border, maintaining that they were banned from reporting within the country and yet they have correspondents within the country that could have produced more accurate stories.

*The IFJ is the world's largest media trade union movement which represents journalist unions in 130 countries.

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