CAR public media move ahead
18-04-2007 (Yaoundé)
Training on digitalization of audio-visual archives at TV Centrafrique
© UNESCO
The shape of Central African Republic future public media took a step forward towards clarification last week with the submission to the Ministry of Communication of the findings of a mission assessing ways for transforming the Central African state-funded electronic media into public service broadcasters.
A set of recommendations was prepared at the request of the Minister of State for Communication, National Reconciliation, Democratic Culture and the Promotion of Human Rights, Abdou Karim Meckassoua, by an international expert, Beyon Luc Tiao, President of the High Council for Communication of Burkina Faso and of the African Communication Regulation Authorities Network (ACRAN), whose professional services were funded by UNESCO. The recommendations outline a strategy for the creation of an independent Office de Radio et Télévision de Centrafrique - ORTCA (Office of Radio and Television of Central Africa), as envisaged by the existing media legislation.
Furthermore, the recommendations, which will appear in few weeks in the form of a written report submitted to the CAR authorities, are framing a plan for the development of Radio Centrafrique (RC) and Television Centrafrique (TVCA), aiming to transform them into public service broadcasters, according to an institutionally sustainable ad hoc model. The plan also comprises a strategy to provide them with an adequate legal and institutional framework and a strategic vision that will ultimately enable them to operate independently and to fulfil the PSB mission.
"As our aim is to assist the government in transforming state-funded media into public service broadcasters", said Mr Tiao, "we have an opportunity to improve the statute of this Office [ORTCA] in order to let radio and television broadcasting play an important role in the process of development and strengthening democracy in CAR".
The President of Burkina Faso’s Regulation Authority also said in an interview to the newspaper Le Confident that "the role of regulation authorities is to promote the defence of press freedom in order to let the media work without political and ideological constraints… It has to be avoided that regulation is perceived as a repression tool against press freedom".
Furthermore, the recommendations, which will appear in few weeks in the form of a written report submitted to the CAR authorities, are framing a plan for the development of Radio Centrafrique (RC) and Television Centrafrique (TVCA), aiming to transform them into public service broadcasters, according to an institutionally sustainable ad hoc model. The plan also comprises a strategy to provide them with an adequate legal and institutional framework and a strategic vision that will ultimately enable them to operate independently and to fulfil the PSB mission.
"As our aim is to assist the government in transforming state-funded media into public service broadcasters", said Mr Tiao, "we have an opportunity to improve the statute of this Office [ORTCA] in order to let radio and television broadcasting play an important role in the process of development and strengthening democracy in CAR".
The President of Burkina Faso’s Regulation Authority also said in an interview to the newspaper Le Confident that "the role of regulation authorities is to promote the defence of press freedom in order to let the media work without political and ideological constraints… It has to be avoided that regulation is perceived as a repression tool against press freedom".
Related themes/countries
· Burkina Faso
· Central African Republic
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2007
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Contact
- Andrea Cairola, UNESCO, Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace
- Cletus Ojong, UNESCO Office in Yaoundé
- UNESCO Office in Yaoundé
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