The Ministry of Local Government has embarked on consultations with media practitioners and activists to revise the media policy that was established in 2011.

Speaking, on Friday, during discussions on media regulation amidst social media trends while upholding public access to information and freedom of speech, Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo, the Media Policy Analyst at the ministry of local government-said that the new media policy seeks to move with times and the current technology trends in media.

“We are receiving different ideas from media practitioners, public and private institutions, civil society, development partners in the media sector, universities and others that are going to guide us in revising the media policy,” he said.

He said that the new policy will also trigger review of some laws.

“The policy will provide guidelines on how media sector can be provided with financial capacity from government and its partners, private sector as well as non-government organizations,” he said

The guidelines, he said, will define the source of financing for media sector.

“Without financial capacity the media could not be productive. The mechanisms to finance the media sector will also be drafted in the new policy that could be adopted soon,” he said..

Albert Baudouin Twizeyimana, the coordinator of PAX PRESS, a network of journalists that promotes peace and professional reporting said that the new media policy should guide on how journalism and communication can be taught in universities in the new era, how journalism can be done in line with the technology trends and how media sector can become financially stable.

“The views we have gathered show that financial constraints are an urgent issue that should be addressed in the new policy. Government should set aside a budget for the media. Others include capacity building and improving quality education in universities,” he noted.

The views we have gathered show that financial constraints are an urgent issue that should be addressed in the new policy. Government should set aside a budget for the media. Others include capacity building and improving quality education in universities,” he noted.

“What journalists do is in the interest of citizens and therefore citizens who access the information can contribute to media development through deducting a small fee from taxes they pay,” she made a case.

Ayanone also pointed out that the future of media should be in the hands of investigative stories that are different from those on social media and adapt to technology advancement in media.

While some argue that journalists should have studied journalism and communication in university, Berna Namata- a journalist and an editor at Rwanda Today said:“We need doctors, lawyers and other experts in journalism because they understand the details. We need an overhaul that allows people from other professions to be journalists as long as they are interested.”

According to Rene Anthere, Rwanyange, a journalist from Panorama reiterated,

“A journalist should be a graduate from university whatever they might have studied. Those who did not study journalism at university should first undertake professional training for a certain period.”

Source : www.newtimes.co.rw