1. Press freedom or freedom of the press is usually associated with the media. It is
simply ensuring and giving the media the space and right to publish freely on
matters of public interest for the good of society so that there is transparency in a
democratic society.
However this paper would like to argue that for press freedom to be meaningful in
society it is also of great importance for people to know that Press Freedom applies
to them. It applies to society in that people should expect the media to report
truthfully on events that occur. There is also a need to hold the media accountable.
The public has the right to information as much as the media has the right to
publish; the two go hand in hand. The media also has a responsibility to ensure that
the information they publish in truly a reflection of society.
There is need for the public to be educated on how to use the media or some term it
media literacy. Definitions of media literacy range are mostly centered on aspects
of media violence and media representation of various groups and people1
. Other
authors define it along the lines of being to interpret and read media ‘the ability to
access, analyse, evaluate and communicate messages in a wide variety of forms’
(The Aspen Institute website, 1993:n.p, as cited in Hobbs, 1998:n.p.). In South
Africa, media educators focus on teaching their students to become aware of the
representation and construction of reality in the media, particularly in newspapers.
Media educators in South Africa maintain that “media education is a potentially
liberating force” one that helps students understand themselves and society, and
helps create critical citizens (Court & Criticos, 1998, p. 100). In some instances
some might call this media education as it encompasses gaining knowledge about
the media in terms of production.
1

2. For the purposes of this paper media literacy in defined as society being aware of
the role of the media in giving them information. This also includes the ability of
people holding the media accountable when stories and issues that are of public
importance in society are swept under the rag either because of corporate influence
or political influence.
It is important for people to hold the media accountable for the stories they report
on or ignore. There have been reports of media omission in some instances due to
various influences. This was evident during 9/11 in America and the subsequent
war of terror where the media was managed by the government in terms of what
could be reported and where they could go in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This was
considered a measure against also informing the terrorists. However it is important
to note that the American people had the right to unfettered information as soldiers
who consisted of family and friends were the ones on the ground.
The importance of media literacy as posited by this paper is educating people on
what the media is and the role they are expected to play in society- that of
reporting news truthfully and objectively and news that truly reflects society.
People need to know that they have the right to demand information on matters
that affect them such as in the area of good governance and service delivery.
We have people who do not know what the media is or its importance in that they
have always used the media- e.g .you turn on the radio and it is there informing
you or entertaining you. But what rights do you have if you feel the content being
broadcast by a particular media do not address your needs or address the issues that
affect you in day to day life.
The media at times take the public for granted. Most media houses have become
Public Relations bodies for the corporate world and propagandists for political

3. parties. Stories that expose political or corporate malfeasance are hard to come by
sometimes as media houses have to think of the bottom line in terms of losing
advertising from such bodies. In such instances omissions are made by editors and
these omissions constitute a crime against the public as they have the right to
information.
This can be seen in the events that have recently taken place in Malawi – the death
of President Bingu Wa Mtharika where the public broadcaster – Malawi
Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) which essentially was a political party
broadcaster during his rule failed to inform the nation of his death despite other
international broadcasters such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
confirming the reports. It is actually fortunate that Malawi has a BBC radio FM
relay as people would have not been aware of this important fact.
It is therefore important for organizations like MISA to embark on campaigns that
inform people about their rights to information and who to approach when they
feel stories in their society that are of public interest are being ignored by the
media. Therefore institutions such as Misa have a role to play in society to not only
fight for the rights of the media but also the right of the public to truthful
information through the promotion of ethical and objective reporting amongst its
members.
International instruments such as the universal declaration on Human Rights of the
United Nations recognize the right of people to receive information2
while Article
9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights3
encourages governments
2
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - United Nations
www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
3
Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa
www1.umn.edu/humanrts/achpr/expressionfreedomdec.html

4. to promote the free flow of information and ideas and greater respect for freedom
of expression. It further states that the key role of the media and other means of
communication in ensuring full respect for freedom of expression, in promoting
the free flow of information and ideas, helps assists people to make informed
decisions and in facilitating and strengthening democracy. This can only lead to the
creation of a well-informed and motivated citizenry, which embraces democratic
governance for national development and the creation of an environment that
safeguards the right of the people, including the right to know and the freedom of
the media.
Aware of the particular importance of the broadcast media in Africa, given its
capacity to reach a wide audience due to the comparatively low cost of receiving
transmissions and its ability to overcome barriers of illiteracy;
Freedom of expression imposes an obligation on the authorities to take positive
measures to promote diversity, which include among other things-:
• availability and promotion of a range of information and ideas to the public;
• pluralistic access to the media and other means of communication, including
by vulnerable or marginalized groups, such as women, children and
refugees, as well as linguistic and cultural groups;
• the promotion and protection of African voices, including through media in
local languages
and article 4 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa.
Mohan noted that access to information is a fundamental part of freedom of
RESOLUTION ON THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN
AFRICA
http://www.achpr.org/english/declarations/declaration_freedom_exp_en.html

5. expression and argued that when citizens are ill-informed and unable to access
basic public information, it is consequently impossible for them to exercise their
right to freedom of expression.
Through media literacy people can know how to read newspapers and understand
why a particular media house would report on a particular story in a particular way.
Through media literacy, people can learn that there are other tools that exist for
them to report and bring to light issues that they feel are ignored by the media.
Indeed in this age of technology, there are tools that empower people such as
facebook, twitter and blogs and people need to be made of such tools and how to
use them responsibly for transformation in their societies.
Providing facts about the media, or media production, has been shown to be less
effective than evaluative content (Huesmann et al., 1983; Nathanson, 2004).
Evaluative
content in a media literacy intervention refers to critical judgments or praising of
media
content or the behavior of media characters4
press freedom can only be meaningful if the people it serves also understand its
imporatance. In such a regard- people are the ones who will always fight for press
freedom for the press as compared to only the media fighting for press freedom.
• "secrecy bill safeguard state secrets and national security5
The bill would give the state
the power to classify documents as secret in the "national interest"
4
EFFECTIVE AND LASTING MEDIA LITERACY
5
SouthAfricaMPspasscontroversial'secrecybill' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15822105
22 November 2011 Last updated at 15:30 GMT

6. • "National interest" defined very broadly, critics say, and could include reports about
government corruption and human rights abuses
• Jail terms of up to 25 years for anyone in possession of classified documents or
harbouring state secrets
• No public interest clause
Difficulty in the Access to Quality Information Undermines Media Freedom"
Sterilization projects6
6
UK aid helps to fund forced sterilisation of India's poor Gethin Chamberlain
• The Observer, Sunday 15 April 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/uk-aid-forced-sterilisation-india

7. • "National interest" defined very broadly, critics say, and could include reports about
government corruption and human rights abuses
• Jail terms of up to 25 years for anyone in possession of classified documents or
harbouring state secrets
• No public interest clause
Difficulty in the Access to Quality Information Undermines Media Freedom"
Sterilization projects6
6
UK aid helps to fund forced sterilisation of India's poor Gethin Chamberlain
• The Observer, Sunday 15 April 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/uk-aid-forced-sterilisation-india