It has become a yearly commitment, for the National Assembly Media, Youth and Culture Committee to meet with the SMC. The Committee which has oversight on the Media Industry for the 7th Assembly, hosted the Commission representatives, under the leadership of Honourable Wavel Woodcock.In view of its new Composition, the SMC was presented with the Committee's term of reference and a plan on how it plan's on working with the SMC and stakeholders in the media sector.
The discussion points centred on the need to revise the Newspaper Act; a revision of the SMC Act and the decriminalise Defamation in the country, which sections are to be found in the penal code. These two points were raised as part of the SMC's mandate to review and make recommendations to the Government on laws governing media in the country.
The meeting also discussed matters concerning accreditation of local journalists which does not happen currently. Discussion also touched on how the SMC is having to take on roles previously exercised by the Information Department.
Committee members shared how they looked forward to creating opportunities that would help strengthen media practitioners’ skills through capacity building and ensure that funding allocated to the media are well spent.
The SMC also took the opportunity to discuss matters that are currently affecting the media sector and the need to improve the standards of journalism locally.
Both parties expressed that them meeting had been a learning opportunity and committed to working closely to ensure growth in the local media sector.