Information minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has hailed the media reforms instituted by the second republic for promoting media diversity through the newly licensed television and community radio stations.
By Gift Washaya and Rutendo Maraire
Mutsvangwa told trainee journalists at Harare Polytechnic during an interactive session on Wednesday that the reform process initiated by the ‘second republic’ had brought media diversity through the licensing of community and campus radio stations.
She said the recently licensed private television stations gives trainee journalists and content creators an opportunity to produce more content thus influencing diversity.
“You are aware the second republic issued six commercial TV stations and fourteen community radio licenses to make sure we catch up with each and every one, no one or place is left behind.
“Harare Polytechnic School of Journalism and Mass Communication is one of the few institutions amongst those who were granted radio broadcast licenses,” said Mutsvangwa.
She further noted that community radio and commercial TV stations will help “uphold Hunhu/Ubuntuism in different communities” and enhance access to information.
Mutsvangwa urged media organisations to tame sexual harassment in newsrooms to create a safe space for women in the sector.
“There is need to create conducive environment for female journalists in newsrooms to curb sexual harassment,” she said.
She urged journalists to stick to ethical principles when reporting news.
“Whatever you write must not polarise the nation,” said Mutsvangwa.
