http://www.minivannews.com/news_detail.php?id=6966
President responds to MJA letters 27 July 2009 Ahmed NaishThe president’s office has responded to two letters by the Maldives Journalist Association expressing concern over the government’s decision to stop publishing notices and announcements in print media and the editorial content of state media. The association sent the second letter to the president’s office following a meeting with editors of daily newspapers on 13 July. “While the private media are not expected to base their survival on the income generated from government notices, the reality is that if the government stops publication of its notices in private media, it will stifle operation of established newspapers and cause new newspapers to go out of business,” reads the letter on 19 July. The letter from the president’s office to MJA, signed by Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair, states that the government respects the views of the association, but does not believe the survival of newspapers hinges on income from the government. “The president asked to inform you that efforts are underway to formulate guidelines to assist print media and the issue is being discussed by the cabinet,” it reads. Survival of print media The MJA letter states that the editors questioned whether the objectives of article 61 of the constitution will be served by the decision to stop publishing notices and announcements in newspapers. Speaking to Minivan News today, Ahmed “Hiriga” Zahir, president of MJA and editor of Haveeru daily, said government notices and announcements on newspapers serves a dual purpose of informing the public of important decisions and providing a financial incentive for print media. Hiriga referred to the ban on motorised vehicles on Saturday night, which he said was not properly announced to the public. He said the letter was not a "positive" response as it showed the government did not appreciate the gravity of the situation. "At our meeting, editors expressed concern that they might be forced to close down the papers," he said. The MJA letter notes that the decision leaves room to question whether the government has “a hidden agenda”. “Editors were of the view that it is important for the Maldives government to set aside a proportion of its annual budget to subsidise private media, just as it currently sets aside a proportion of its annual budget for political parties,” it concludes. Bias In an earlier letter, MJA called on the president to establish independent editorial boards for state television and radio to ensure impartiality. In response, the press secretary writes that Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) was in the process of becoming a public broadcaster to be run under “corporate principles” and the government was seeking expert advice to set the company’s editorial policy. “Although the letter [from MJA] states that the government exerts influence on the news and programmes of Television Maldives and Voice of Maldives, because it does not note specific instances, the president has asked to inform you that the government has not noticed such incidents,” it reads. Hiriga said he had met with the board of the MNBC to provide specific examples of TVM’s biased coverage. A public service broadcasting bill submitted to parliament by MP for Kulhudhufushi South Mohamed Nasheed was not covered, said Hiriga, but a similar broadcasting bill presented by the government to parliament not long after, received wide coverage. Further, he said, press conferences of opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) received cursory coverage. "I believe state media is a mouthpiece to spread government propaganda," Hiriga said. Impartial Speaking to Minivan News earlier this month, the President’s Office Press Secretary denied the allegation and MNBC board member Aminath Najeeb said she was “ashamed” to note that certain reports broadcast by TVM were identical to reports on Haveeru. “They are impartial to the point that the government is now thinking that they represent the opposition more than private broadcasters,” said Zuhair. The first MJA letter states that state broadcasters cannot be run in a democratic manner by employing senior officials who were involved in upholding the “early dictatorial practices of the previous government”. It further questions whether incumbent President Mohamed Nasheed seeks to “prolong the dictatorial culture and policies that were pursued by the former government.” “The president asked to inform you that the number of journalists that remained within the dictatorial culture noted in the letter is proportionately high, and that such journalists will use the freedom available at the time as well as they can,” reads the response from the president’s office. At the MJA meeting with the editors, said Hiriga, the association discussed staging a protest as a last resort if the government failed to consider its plea. But, he added, no decisions were made and the protest was only floated as an idea. "At the executive board meeting after receiving the letter, we decided not to take any further action for the time being," he said. ------------------------------------ -- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTMedia mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE Share media news, discuss journalism issues and network with media professionals across South Asia on this mailing list. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTMedia by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTCaste: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
