MEDIA INDUSTRY TO FIGHT AGAINST GOVT ADVERTISING BAN The media industry says it is gravely disturbed by recent media reports that the #Botswana Government is planning to use Advertising as a weapon against the private media. Government is reported to have issued a secret directive to its various ministries and #parastatals, to stop advertising in all newspapers in the country, except The Voice and The Ngami Times. Gabz FM is the only local radio station that is facing the adverting ban. The media industry which is #MISA Botswana, Press Council of Botswana, The Editors Forum and Publishers Association, agreed at a meeting to fight this matter head on. In a statement, they cited the Guardian-Sun case of 2001, against Attorney General, that clearly showed the unconstitutionality of Government using Advertising as a weapon against Freedom of Expression. The industry says it is sad that the Government can turn to such a discredited method, to express its dissatisfaction with the private media, an act which they view as an attempt to influence editorial independence, and impose a chilling effect on press freedom.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 05:44:10 +0000