Journalists have one month to set up a body that will fast track their path towards media self-regulation as stipulated by the new media law.

The exercise to spearhead self-regulation held at Lemigo Hotel last week brought together journalists, Rwanda Governance Board, donors and observers from political organisations.

There is optimism that the government will eventually leave the country’s media to govern itself without interference.

Presenting the findings of a survey by an independent body on the challenges ahead, Dr Christopher Kayumba cited financial self-sustenance by the new body among the major hurdles.

Heavy financial dependence on government has been one of the issues with some arguing that as long as the government remains the major financier, its influence on the media cannot be avoided.

Media practitioners welcomed the move to set up the self-regulation committee, pointing out that it will pave way for the media to operate in a more professional manner and at the same time ensure that the ethics and rights of the media are upheld.

“The government is determined to see the media move towards being more independent while at the same time exercising responsibility because part of the mandate of the committee will be to oversee that we practise with high levels of professionalism,” said Marie Louise Uwizeyimana, the editor of Intego newspaper.

The journalist, whose newspaper was confiscated by security organs a couple of months ago, is of the view that the committee will ensure that security organs do not interfere in the operations of the media.

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The Rwandan government has since 1994 been accused of exerting excessive control over the media, which in most case has been the sole cause of the poor ratings the country is accorded when it comes to global rankings on media freedoms and freedoms of expression.

Committee mandate

The Rwandan Media Self-regulation Committee will receive, evaluate and hear complaints from public and also adjudicate cases objectively and independently.

According to Dr Christopher Kayumba who led a team of consultants to draw the framework under which it will operate, the committee will also have a duty to interpret and apply the Rwanda journalists’ code.

“Once established, this committee will act as a mediator between the public, the media houses and journalists. It will also defend the rights of the journalists and media houses by speaking on their behalf,” he said adding that, “Part of the duties of the committee will be to encourage media houses to apply the code of conduct, do advocacy for its work and raise funds at the same time,”

This means that the government will no longer fund the self-regulation body and journalists will have to create a fund to sustain (Rwanda Media Self Regulation Committee) RMSC.

However, the government will fund RMSC for the first three years once established to allow it to take off.

While some argued that joining the body would be optional, the new law requires that membership becomes compulsory for all accredited journalists and licensed media houses

All journalists will be required to get accreditation, pay membership fees and uphold the code of ethics and respecting decisions of the Commission.

Once established, the RMSC will act as “court of first instance”, saving journalists from court cases.

The public, individuals and institution will be obliged to file complaints to the committee as long as they have reasonable ethical ground and damage to the complainant.

Journalists welcomed the development as one that will protect journalists from court cases and long jail terms.

It means the body will take over the role once carried out by Media High Council (MHC) whose powers were trimmed. MHC was seen as a body used by the government to exert its influence and interference in works of the media.

Scepticism

It remains to be seen whether government will not send in moles in the committee to pursue its interests as it has done in the past in other media bodies including the Association of Rwandan Journalists and Press House.

Sceptics argue that through new media laws, government will still have room to purge, control, arm twist and influence decisions.

Observers also say there are still some ambiguities within the laws that might at the end of the day leave journalists exposed to prosecution especially regarding defamation and investigative journalism since there is room for legal redress if RMSC fails to reach an agreement.

Article 6 of the law regulating media stipulates that journalists are prohibited to publish content from documents deemed ‘confidential’ obtained from judicial, parliamentary or cabinet proceedings held in camera, even though the information was obtained from a trusted source.

The media still awaits ministerial decrees to determine what information sensitive to national security is.

However the Minister of Local Government Mr James Musoni, while presiding over the activities assured journalists that it was within the interests of government.

“The process of establishing media self-regulation is part of wider government led reforms intended to empower the media sector,” he said.

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