The absence of a proper understanding of journalism in our country, disregard for its ethics and widespread chaos caused by weak organisation and suspended requirements to practise, especially in independent press, are compounded by routine and a lack of vision responsive to new media within public service organisations. All this requires a swift, serious solution to restore the press’s credibility, do justice to its pioneers and guide young practitioners towards proper practice under professional rules and standards. Their arrival alongside contemporary technology and citizen journalism is fortunate and protects them from the profession’s hardships in earlier times.
In our country, it is no longer possible to determine
who is a journalist.. ? What is a press organisation.. ? Which body represents journalists.. ?
Failing to set organisational rules for professional practice and allowing the current national press situation to continue will negatively affect the state and society, threaten their political, economic and social spheres, create diplomatic crises—as it has previously—disrupt development, fail to strengthen national unity, weaken national values and destroy society’s role models and leaders. Without serious professional press, supported materially and morally and enjoying its proper standing, neither a democratic civilian state nor a society aware of its role can be built. Without specialised, professional and responsible press rather than yellow journalism based on rumours and deception, states cannot be built on justice, accountability, transparency and equal opportunities. This requires proper professional principles and a system that recognises their importance, does not harass or fight the press or dry up its support, and seeks to destroy, dilute and diminish it, eliminate its pioneers and flood the scene with titles and groups that have no connection with it and do not wish to. This was the bitter experience we lived as journalists and as the Union representing Mauritanian journalists under the preceding decade’s governments. Although the former President provided a broad margin of press freedoms and engaged positively with our Union’s requests, his government was behind all the dilution and chaos.
We trust the new era and have great hope in it. We see a glimmer of hope in the new government through its Prime Minister, known for his competence, and the rest of his cabinet. We seek a serious commitment to lift Mauritanian journalism from its deplorable and shameful reality to a better, institutionalised, regulated and organised state in which we define who is a journalist.. What is a press organisation.. ? Which body represents journalists.. ? And establish unquestionable conditions for receiving public support, which must go to organisations rather than individuals through patronage.
Finally, I propose forming a Higher Press Council
to undertake self-regulation of journalists and public and private press organisations, allowing the supervising ministry to focus on its main duties and the media system to develop a new structure, as in countries that have abolished information ministries. The Council would manage all public press support, participate in defining general media policy and issue professional press cards after applicants meet legal requirements and receive endorsement from the body most representative of journalists.
The Council could also undertake mediation and arbitration and oversee compliance with professional ethics.
Mohamed Salem Ould Dah
President of the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union