The media bills have been tabled in the lower chamber of parliament again by Political Affairs and Gender Committee following the approval by the plenary session in August.
Protais Musoni, Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs, has said that there were clauses hampering the media which had to be removed.
Some articles include the one that require a certain amount of money to set up a media house and specified academic qualifications requirements for journalists to practice journalism.
“There are some who have not been trained in journalism and can do or may do better than those qualified in journalism,” Musoni told the member of parliament before taking on the the scrutiny which is supposed to be completed before this month ends.
Media analysts say the removal of restrictive clauses may compromise quality in the media in this generation.
However the Minister does not see that way saying that when entrance into any sector becomes easy, it facilitates competition which makes the sector grow fast.
Musoni argues that competitive market will automatically eliminate poor quality emphasizing that many people have been discovered to have better journalistic skills without having necessarily went journalism schools.
Previously, the draft law also required a Rwandan journalist to have, either an associate’s degree in journalism or communication, a certificate obtained from an institute of journalism and communication, or a university degree in another field with training in journalism.
“It is not that we wish the media to have unqualified people. But media practitioners will also want to employ competent people so as to give quality,” The Minister said adding that Editors’ forum will be formed to monitor the profession.
The Lower Chamber had proposed that Rwf 50 million be the initial capital requirement for radio stations, Rwf 100 million for television and Rwf 6 million for print media.
Apart from the Media Bill, lawmakers are also examining a bill on access to information, and two bills on the functioning and organization of the Media High Council (MHC), as well as the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA).
Unlike before, media regulation will now be carried out by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA).
The bill on access to information aims to enable the public access to information in the hands of public institutions, and some private bodies.
Members of parliament are exepcted to complete srutiny of the bills by Friday.
ENDS
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