By Teboho Serutla
The National Reforms Authority (NRA) has discussed the second media draft policy meant to pave way for professional media practice.
The policy was tabled this week before the NRA members and principal chiefs. The draft contains among others, policy purposes, scope, objectives as well as principles underpinning this policy.
Such principles include media as a public information tool, a civic education platform, a depicter of cultural diversity of society as well as being an instrument for accountability.
The draft also contains regional, continental and international media protocols and policy guidelines.
It also contains aspects relating to national code of conduct, behavior and practice within the media circles regarding truth and facts while safeguarding the public interest.
The discussion was welcomed by the Media Institute of Lesotho (MISA) in its statement released this week.
The national media policy was drafted and presented before the plenary by the NRA media committee following consultations with stakeholders which included MISA Lesotho.
The media sector has been identified as a thematic area for reforms driven by the NRA.
MISA Lesotho national director Lekhetho Ntsukunyane said the adoption of the policy by the “NRA is indicative of a step closer to submitting it before the National Assembly.”
He added: “MISA Lesotho strongly believes that the draft national media policy, as adopted with amendments by the NRA plenary, is a shining light to Lesotho’s ailing media sector.”
The institute regarded the policy as a foundation to “building a media sector that is professional, ethical and toes the universally accepted standards in its conduct and practice”.
It remarked that the document facilitates formulation of laws on media, access to and receipt of information, advertising and other relevant,
MISA Lesotho has advocated and lobbied for formulation of a media legal framework enabling freedom, pluralism, diversity and professionalization of the sector for more than two decades.
A national media policy has been key in the advocacy.
