A joint workshop organised by the Mauritanian Journalists’ Association and the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union with the International Federation of Journalists, entitled “Mechanisms for establishing the Higher Press Council and self-regulation”, opened this Tuesday morning. The opening was attended by the Minister of Public Service, acting Minister of Culture and Communication, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture and several heads of official media organisations..
In his opening address, the President of the Mauritanian Journalists’ Association stressed the workshop’s importance. He said it followed the consultation days attended by all media professionals, which produced important points including mechanisms for establishing the Higher Press Council, whose process is now beginning.
Mauritanian Journalists’ Union President Mohamed Salem Ould Dah said that the Union had often discussed the press’s situation in Mauritania, which required greater attention to structural problems, foremost organisational issues.
He added: “We are renewing the effort with the International Federation of Arab Journalists, so that it can learn about the press’s conditions in our country.”
The International Federation of Journalists President said: “We are an organisation made up of unions and associations, not a government organisation. We are accountable to those organisations and were founded by unions.” He added that their approach differed from others because defending journalists within the law was their priority, they believed the press had a social responsibility and worked for it to mirror its society.
The training workshop, entitled “Mechanisms for establishing the Higher Press Council and self-regulation”, lasts two days in Nouakchott.