DILI, 10 february 2022 (TATOLI) – The Press Council is committed to promoting and ensuring editorial independence of all media institutions, including print, broadcast, and online.
“One of the main goals of the Strategic Plan is to ensure the editorial independence of all media in the country,” the Executive Director of the Press Council, Rigoberto Monteiro made the comments at the launching ceremony of the Press Council’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026, in Dili, on thursday.
The Press Council’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026 was officially launched by the Secretary of State for Communications (SECOMS), Merício Juvinal dos Reis ‘Akara’.
Monteiro said to ensure professional journalists in the country, each media is required to promote its editorial independence to make sure there would be no political and economic intervention in their coverage: “It’s important to improve the quality of the news to give people information they need.”
The Strategic Plan 2022 has four main objectives, such as to improve the technical skills of a journalist, support the journalist associations, strengthen the self-regulation of the Press Council, and ensure management and institutional development of media in the country.
Monteiro said the Press Council will support the media institutions to develop their own strategic plan in the coming years.
Echoing Monteiro’s statement, the Secretary of State for Communications, Merício Juvinal dos Reis ‘Akara said that it was a challenge for the Press Council to ensure the editorial independence of all media in the upcoming presidential election.
“Press Council would face an enormous challenge in march 19 presidential election and the parliamentary election in 2023. It’s a big test for the Press Council, and we will accompany the whole situation of media coverage in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections,” Akara said.
He said the launch of the Strategic Plan would lead the Press Council to carry out its work to ensure freedom of expression in the country.
Akara called on media institutions and journalists to carry out their work professionally, without adhering to any political party, particular group, or particular political figure.
He also called on the Press Council to ensure editorial freedom from the economic intervention: “Again I want to emphasize that it’s important for the Press Council to ensure Editorial Independence as well as the freedom of speech and information and the freedom of the press and mass media.”
However, under the terms of the Timorese media law, the article that addresses editorial status is Article 32 (Editorial Statute), explaining as follows:
1) All media organizations must adopt an editorial statute that clearly defines their orientation and objectives and includes a commitment to ensure respect for deontological principles and professional ethics, as well as for the good faith of readers.
2) The editorial statute is prepared by the director of the media and, after the opinion of the Editorial Board, submitted for ratification by the owner entity, and must be inserted in the first edition of the publication or in the first issue of the broadcasting station and sent within ten days thereafter. to the Press Council.
3) Without prejudice to the provisions of the previous number, the editorial statute is published at the beginning of each calendar year to inform the public of its maintenance.
4) The editorial statutes are subject to a prior opinion from the Editorial Board, and must be reproduced in the first edition or issue subsequent to its ratification by the owner entity, and must be sent within ten days to the Press Council.
Meanwhile, an independent administrative entity, to be created by decree-law under the name of the Press Council, ensures compliance with this law, namely the observance of the rights and duties of journalists, as well as the observance of the ethical principles of journalistic activity.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
