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Issue 00478 |
July 21 - 27, 2007 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Local News |
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EAC opens media centre but muzzles
staff freedom
by Arusha Times Correspondent East African Community will soon set up a media centre to facilitate coverage of its day to day activities and also as part of a wider public sensitization programme. The centre will be equipped with communication facilities such as Internet and digital data which will be used by journalists who will be accredited to make coverage of the Community affairs. EAC spokesperson Magaga Alot said last week that the media centre will be located at its temporary premises at the Arusha International Conference Centre where a large room has been prepared on the second floor of the Ngorongoro wing. "Currently the room is being refurbished. This will be followed by installation of computers," he said, adding that after its take off more staff would be recruited to work in the newly-established Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Directorate. The centre is expected to ease the coverage of EAC activities, especially its meetings, by local journalists and others from the five partners states as well as the international media. It will also serve as a database on EAC matters. EAC media centre is being launched at a time when the Community management is tightening procedures for releasing information to the media, a measure which has not been well received by some stakeholders. A circular signed by Ambassador Julius Onen, the deputy secretary general in charge projects and programme said only five senior officials are allowed to give information to the public. These are the secretary general Amb. Juma Mwapachu, deputy SG (Political Federation) Ms Beatrice Kiraso, newly-appointed deputy SG (Finance and Administration Dr. Julius Tangus Rotich, Amb. Onen himself and the Community spokesperson. No reasons were given on the directive but Amb. Onen said top officils of the secretariat are not happy with the way some staff members have been speaking to the media on several occasions without observing the established protocol. "This practice must stop forthwith and members of staff are reminded to adhere to the EAC Spokesman Policy" he said adding that "under normal practice" the spokesperson of the regional body is the SG. According to him, EAC SG will "within the understood limits" delegate such function to the head of Directorate of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs who shall facilitate, co-ordinate and streamline media coverage on the regional body. "As a general rule, staff will not give interviews, issue statements to the media or purport to speak for the EAC or the SG except with the express authority of the SG" the directive said. The directive was also circulated to staff members of the East African Legislative Assembly and the East African Court of Justice, the two key organs of EAC. The Community secretariat currently has nearly 150 employees. However, Amb. Onen, the secretariat
would from now on organise regular media briefings on EAC developments
on weekly basis through officials mandated to speak on behalf of the
regional body. |
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