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The Media Ombudsman volume 1/2010
Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ)
April 27, 2010

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The democratic world is moving away from state control of the media to self-regulation and Zimbabwe cannot afford to remain behind while everyone else is moving forward. The concept of media self-regulation is based on the notion that media must develop systems and structures of responsibility and accountability that respond to society's concerns on its operations and also opens the industry to direct criticism and positive contribution to its operations by the public. Media set-up voluntary professional and ethical guidelines they commit to abide by and by so doing accept their share of responsibility while protecting editorial independence.

Zimbabwe has had its own share of media repression through state control by state apparutus such as the Media and Information Commission that has been replaced by the recently appointed Zimbabwe Media Commission. Realising the oppressive nature of statutory regulation, journalists formed the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) that is mandated to receive complaints from members of the public and promote media ethics, professionalism and accountability.

While the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe joins other media stakeholders and Zimbabweans at large in welcoming the establishment of ZMC, pessimism is still widespread. The Commission faces a hurdle of political haggling as a result of the selection process that was partially a compromise of candidates between Zanu PF and the two MDC formations. Partisan interests may take precedence over interests of the profession at the ZMC. Many governments in Africa still consider self-regulation of the media to be undesirable because the same governments like to keep their grip on the media and remain custodians of information. Statutory regulation in Zimbabwe has so far been more effective in muzzling media operations and exercise of the right to freedom of expression by the media.

On the contrary, media self-regulation is premised on the principles of freedom of expression being the cornerstone of democracy, the desire for free flow of information and ideas and access to information. The VMCZ is also aware of the need to create a widely accessible public complaints system for the print and electronic journalism in Zimbabwe to guarantee accountability while promoting professionalism in the industry.

Welcome to the first edition of The Media Ombudsman, the e-newsletter for the VMCZ. The Media Ombudsman is a tool for our advocacy and awareness raising campaign as we push for effective and viable media self-regulation in Zimbabwe.

The Media Ombudsman highlights our work in satisfactorily resolving complaints when they arise and our activities to promote professionalism, ethics and accountability in the media.

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