The framework for exercising journalistic activity in Angola was presented this Wednesday by the secretary general of the Union of Angolan Journalists (SJA), Teixeira Cândido, at the opening of the 1st National Conference of Journalists, taking place in Luanda.
According to the union leader, the conference, which takes place under the motto "For Free, Ethical and Dignified Journalism", results from a challenge launched by journalists during a freedom march held by professionals, on December 17, 2022, in Luanda.
"Free, ethical and dignified journalism basically sums up our convictions, because we understand that free journalism is the only one capable of being at the service of democracy, the only one capable of strengthening our democratic State and one of the main ways to develop the country", said the person in charge.
For the leader of the SJA, reflecting on freedom of the press "is not a mere exercise in claiming more or less freedom", but, he noted, "presupposes claiming our predisposition and conviction that development is not just about concrete".
"It is necessary to strengthen our institutions, hence we understand that it is only possible with free journalism, free justice and all other powers that live up to the expectations of citizens", he noted.
"We decided that it is not enough to have free journalism, journalism must be ethical, that it differs from social networks, we have deontology that says we have to respect the principle of the presumption of innocence, we have to do the contradictory whenever we have information and not scoff," he pointed out.
Because "the journalist has to do impartial, plural and independent journalism", said Teixeira Cândido, also defending the social dignity of journalists.
The secretary general of the SJA considered that the social condition of Angolan journalists, especially the private ones, "is not good" and the meeting, which also marks the World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated this Wednesday, will observe also the social situation of professionals.
"Journalists are poorly paid, it is not possible to do free journalism riding in the source's car, it is not possible to do free journalism waiting for the source to pay allowances, that is begging, we refuse to beggar", he shot.
The conference "wants to reflect on what conditions and paths we can have, in 2018 we took a step towards the public sector, we implemented the qualifier and the situation today is better, they are not completely concluded, but we have made great progress", he stressed.
"The private sector is a terrible reality and we have to reject this reality, that's why we expect lights to discuss with private employers", he stressed.
Teixeira Cândido also appealed to the Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, Mário de Oliveira, who spoke at the opening of the meeting, in order to implement the law of incentives for social communication.
And Minister Mário de Oliveira, in his speech, saluted all professionals who exercise their activity in a serious, responsible and patriotic way, considering the 3rd of May as a date that should serve as a reflection for media professionals.
"This is a date that should serve as a reflection for the class, its position in society towards the country's commitments, which is why I welcome the holding of this forum and hope that recommendations for the class will come out of it so that all of us together can unite in favor of a single flag that is Angola and only Angola", he said.
"I take this opportunity to express the Ministry's willingness to collaborate on a day-to-day basis with the organizers of this event and with all the living forces so that each of us can work together", he concluded.
The legal dimension of freedom of the press, access to information from local communities and community radios and self-regulation are some of the topics that will be discussed at this conference, which brings together journalists from 18 provinces.
The SJA, the Portfolio and Ethics Commission and the Institute for Southern African Media - (MISA) are the organizers of this conference, which has the support of the European Union.
