MACRA CONDUCTS WORKSHOP ON CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

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

Opening the workshop to run from 25 to 26 September at Lilongwe Hotel, director of finance, Ben Chitsonga said Macra would always strive to ensure broadcasters adhere to broadcasting rules and regulations to foster peace.

Topics to be covered are understanding rhetoric conflict, human rights claims, entitlements, duties, limitations and responsibilities, responsible handling of conflict in broadcast media, conflict sensitive journalism among others.

In defining who is a responsible journalist, members proposed that responsible journalist is the one who balances rights and responsibilities, peace builder, limited by laws, observing international instruments, morality and customary laws and practices.

“The media practices are more likely to perpetuate violent conflict than contribute to its peaceful resolution,” said one of facilitators Dr. Sydney Kankuzi, senior lecturer in languages and communication skills department at Chancellor College.

On September 24 2019, Macra also conducted a similar meeting   with politicians, according to director of broadcasting Fegus Lipenga.

During the meeting politicians resolved that Macra needed to be organizing regular interface meetings between political parties, police and media so that together they chart way forward in conflict management.