By: Igihe.com Reporter
An American expert in media ethics and law has held discussions with Rwandan journalists on media ethics and laws vis a vis current issues in the media.
Jane E. Kirtley a professor in the University of Minnesota said that Rwanda’s media was passing through what she called transition of democracy.
She has been in the country for one week discussing media ethics and laws with various people from different stakeholders.
“A free society needs a free press, free press is a press free from government regulator,” Prof. Kirtley said while introducing her discussions with journalists.
“In my opinion, in every nation post publications should not face suspension or censorship and it is not good to have a particular or special law on media but there should be responsive journalism which she said it should not be impeded by government to go for truth and report it.
She however said that some journalists are not responsible and get stories in illegal ways, referring to the likes of phone hacking scandal in UK.
Commenting on the Media self regulatory body setting in Rwanda, Kirtley said that it should not be the body who will only slap people when they are wrong but also train them.
Professor Jane E. Kirtley is the Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
She is also the Director of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law and has carried out research in the area of media law.
Kirtley teaches courses in contemporary problems in freedom of speech and press, mass communication law, internet law and comparative media law.
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