Journalists told to promote citizenship values

Kwanza Norte, Ndalatando - The minister of Social Communication, Carolina Cerqueira, Thursday in Ndalatando, northern Kwanza Norte province, urged journalists to engage in continued promotion of more and more democratic and plural information based on the principles of mutual respect and social stability.Carolina Cerequeira was speaking at the main event celebrating the International Press Freedom Day, May3.She spoke of the need of the public and private media organs to continue promoting an information focusing on values of citizenship and construction of a more and more harmonious society.The minister appealed to the class to strictly observe the premises that the freedom of expression through the social communication does not constitute an absolute and unlimited right that overpower other values of third parties.Carolina Cerqueira also spoke of the need of media professionals to gain awareness that thinking is subject to limitations resulting from the collision with other essential rights and equal normative values.According to her, in order to exercise in a sound way the freedom of press, journalists are required to gain competences to adopt practices that help change attitudes and behaviours that ensure more credibility to the press, promote ethics and respect for the interests of the citizens.She recalled that based on the premises of the universal declaration on human rights, the promotion, maintenance and reinforcement of an independent, free and plural media must take into account factors like the respect for democratic principles that ensure the country’s development and harmony among the citizens.On the other hand, the minister highlighted the relevant role played by the media in the economic transformation of the society, through a qualitative drive that includes the public dissemination of the knowledge of all economic measures, incentives, business opportunities and people’s access to bank credit.The event was attended by Kwanza Norte province governor, Henrique Júnior and members of his executive, Social Communication Ministry’s officials and representatives of various privately-owned media organs and guests.The May 3 was proclaimed International Press Freedom Day in terms of the 48/432 decision, of December 20, 1993, approved by the United Nations General Assembly that chose the date when the Windhoek Declaration was passed, during a seminar on Promotion of Independence and Pluralism in African Press, sponsored by UNESCO in the Namibian capital from April 29 to May 3, 1991.