Socialization of the Draft Media Law
The Secretary of State for Media, Nélio Isaac Sarmento, took part and officially opened the workshop on the socialization of the draft Media Law organized by Fundo Média Foundation (FFM). The workshop took place at Beach Garden Hotel in Dili from 21 to 23 January 2013 under the topic “The Preparatory Process for the Establishment of the Press Council and the Socialization of the Timor-Leste’s Draft Media Law”.
Mr. Nélio Isaac Sarmento stated that “the issue of the Press Council is part of the Media Law which is currently going through a socialization process. Since it has to do with associations of journalists and media professionals, it is my understanding that the establishment of the Press Council is a very important issue. The Press Council is an important and independent body with the responsibility to protect, regulate and at the same time demand that there is professional responsibility insofar as the media is concerned. The draft media law therefore provides for the establishment of the Press Council once its final version enters into force”.
The Secretary of State reminded the associations of journalists and media professionals that “representation in the Press Council must be legitimate and media companies must have the necessary license as well as a proper structure and accountability.
In accordance with the Executive Director of Fundo Média Foundation (FFM), Suzana Cardoso, “the community of journalists needs a fundamental mechanism that works as an umbrella to strengthen their role as an important instrument of social control. In addition to disseminating and socializing the draft media Law, our speakers will also share their experience on the mechanism for the establishment and functioning of the Press Council in this country”.
Also in attendance in the workshop were the Indonesian Press Council Deputy-Chairperson, Bambang Harymurti; the RTTL Council of Administration Chairperson, Expedito Dias Ximenes, the AJTL President, Tito Freitas Belo; the Timor-Leste’s Journalists Trade Union, Otélio Ote; the Director and the advisers of the Office of the Secretary of State for the Media, students from UNTL Media Department, students of S. Miguel wall journal as well as other journalists.
