SECTOR 4

4.2
The standard of reporting follows the basic
principles of accuracy and fairness.
he Mozambican media as a whole observe basic principles such as ensuring factual
and balanced reporting. One indicator of this is the increasing number of anonymous
citizens seeking out the media (physically, through letters or phone calls) to present
subjects of public interest for investigation and publication.
Recent research on the level of public conidence in the various sectors of society
also found that the media inspired the greatest public trust, even more so than the
judiciary and the police.
Despite these accolades, however, participants pointed out that there has also been
serious abuse of these principles, particularly by some journalists in the print media,
who overlook professional rules, with priority for the extensive publication of
speculative opinion pieces instead of factual articles. Among media houses known
for this type of reportage, misleading and sensationalist headlines are common,
with the facts proclaimed in the headline not actually matching the news itself.
In addition, certain articles published in the print media are based on anonymous
letters without any attempt to check the veracity of the facts or seriously applying
the right of reply. It is believed that these practices are used simply to increase sales,
relative to the competition.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

2.7 (2005 = 2.0; 2007 = 3.0; 2009 = 3.1)

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MOZAMBIQUE 2011

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