As we celebrate World Radio Day, MISA Malawi calls on journalists and radio stations in Malawi to be agents of peace and harmony among Malawians by fighting increasing cases of disinformation, misinformation and hate content.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted February 13 as World Radio Day (WRD) in 2012; which today is being celebrated under the theme of ‘Radio and Peace’, highlighting independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
On this day, we celebrate radio as a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse.
MISA Malawi would like to remind journalists that information aired on radio reaches millions of listeners and therefore has to be accurate and grounded in journalistic principles of truth, objectivity and balance.
Sharing of inaccurate information has the potential to fuel conflicts. Radio personalities should therefore utilize their noble platforms to promote the truth and fight misinformation.
We urge radio stations to invest more in fact-checking and peacebuilding by developing content that is independent of any political and commercial inclinations, fact-based and free from any hate speech.
We also urge radio stations to adopt media house policies that support peace building and production of content that reflects diversity of views and opinion.
Production of relevant programmes that reflect diversity in political, religious and cultural opinions and independent news reporting provide a favourable environment for peacebuilding, sustainable democracy and good governance. Let us use radio to shape public opinion and frame the narrative of peace.
We wish you all a happy World Radio Day.
Contacts
MISA Malawi Chairperson Teresa Ndanga
Cell: +265 999 247 911 or email teresa.temweka@gmail.com
MISA Malawi National Director Aubrey Chikungwa
Cell: +265 999 327 311 or email info@misamalawi.org
