Emma Theofelus, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, has called upon radio broadcasters to constantly fact-check their information with reliable sources before disseminating it to the public, and to become champions in the fight against misinformation and disinformation.
Theofelus made these remarks at the 11th annual World Radio Day (WRD) celebrations, held on Friday under the theme ‘Radio and Trust’ at Rehoboth in the Hardap Region.
She stated that in a world flooded with propaganda, misinformation and disinformation, it is critical for communicators to dispel these “weapons of mass destruction”, adding that people’s trust in radio reinforces the need for accurate and reliable information dissemination to the masses.
“Radio should ensure inclusivity and diversity in terms of content and programming to maintain and earn trust. By doing so, listeners will feel represented and have access to pertinent information,” she stated.
Speaking at the same event, Djaffar Moussa-Elkadhum, UNESCO Representative in Namibia, said radio must expand its accessibility and care for its inclusive audience while maintaining and reinforcing its trust through the production of independent and high-quality content.
“This entails meeting the informational needs of all listeners and acting as a catalyst for integration and social preparation – including people with disabilities,” he explained.
He went on to say that the newly adopted Windhoek +30 Declaration calls on all governments to take effective steps to foster a diversity of viable public, private and community media, as well as to promote the production of independent, quality journalism, with the goal of ensuring people’s access to relevant, diverse and trustworthy information.
According to European Union (EU) Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, radio continues to play an important role in facilitating public debates on national reforms in Namibia and will continue to play a critical public oversight role in the implementation of national goals, as well as act as a watchdog to ensure accountability.
“We are confident that this broadcasting platform will continue to play an important role in educating the public on a wide range of topics, including politics, diplomacy, increasing agricultural efficiency, economic growth, gender-based violence and human rights,” she said.
She stated that the EU, as Namibia’s development partner, encourages community and commercial radio broadcasters to position themselves as development advocates, human rights defenders and supporters of good governance.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
