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"id": 403511,
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"speaker_name": "Hon. Katoo",
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"id": 199,
"legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
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"content": "Thirdly, the media can as well be used for economic development of the country by highlighting investment opportunities and tourism opportunities that are in a country. So, this is a very positive element that the media can be used for. Finally, the media can be used to build human resource capacity in the country through informing and educating the masses. An informed and educated society is very productive. The media can play that role. That summarises what I wanted to say, that we should, at all times, defend the freedom and the rights of the media as enshrined in the Constitution. If you read Articles 24, 33 and 34 of the Constitution, they call for a law that tries to balance the delicate act enshrined in those articles of the Constitution, namely responsibility and accountability as much as the rights of the media and the rights of the society are concerned. We need to modify some of the positive elements that I have picked in this Media Council Bill like my colleagues have said through amendments during the Committee Stage of the Bill. If you start from Part I, the interpretation, my good friend and a lawyer, hon. Opiyo, who has just spoken, raised the issue that “journalist” is defined as any person who engages in the practice of journalism. Then he said that, that is a fake interpretation. But if you go back, just a little bit above that statement, journalism is already defined. So, a journalist is a person who practices journalism. If you look at “foreign journalists”, maybe it is a matter of re-arranging the definition. That should have come below the definition of “journalism”. We need to, first of all, define “journalism”, then you go down to define “journalist” and then “foreign journalist”. Clause 2 is on interpretation and defines the issue of the code of conduct for journalists and should be read together with the Second Schedule. I fully agree with the Second Schedule on the code of conduct for the practice of journalism, the issue of accuracy and fairness when reporting, independence of journalism and journalists, integrity of those who practise journalism, accountability of those who report news and opportunity to reply when they may have done an inaccuracy or misreporting. There is an opportunity for reply and report the item correctly. The issues of confidentiality, misrepresentation of facts, recording, interviewing and telephone conversation and privacy, all these up to Clause 22 can mitigate the issues that people have been raising between the society and journalists. There is the issue of their independence and also the issue of being accountable to what they report as required in Article 33 and Article 24 of the Constitution. I think they are well defined. They may just need to be modified a little bit at the Third Reading of this Bill when amendments shall be brought. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Clause 3 is about the guiding principles for those who practise journalism and it is really elaborate. Clause 3(2), for example, states:- (2) In exercise of the right to freedom of expression, electronic, print and all other types of media shall— (a) reflect the interests of all sections of society; (b) be accurate and fair; (c) be accountable and transparent; (d) respect the personal dignity and privacy of others; (e) demonstrate professionalism and respect for the rights of others; and (f) be guided by the national values and principles of governance set out under Article The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}