The public lecture which was held at the Raphael Tenthani Centre for Media Excellence at the Malawi Polytechnic, Chichiri Campus, brought together a variety of key stakeholders in the media industry. 

The lecture was presented by Penelope Kakhobwe, a media researcher, former lecturer at University of Botswana and former executive director for Media Council of Malawi.

Kakhobwe highlighted some of factors that are lowering the sanity of journalism in the country through her lecture titled, ‘New Impediments to Freedom of Expression.’

Kakhobwe explained that there are limits to freedom of expression, taking into account the debates which take place on the social media platforms like Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter.

“There are issues which are infringing rights of people to freedom of expression. One could be the high prices of accessing social platforms where people get information and also participate in the public sphere,” she explained.

She also mentioned  taxes which are imposed on the airtime because government seems to think that they are a luxury yet they are platforms where people express their views. Countries like Kenya and Tanzania have imposed taxes on whatsapp in order to help in dealing with ciber crimes.

She said: “Freedom of expression needs to be practiced because not everyone is for the ruling government policies and ideologies. Rule against free speech is a concern in African countries.”

Speaking after the presentation, a lecturer and Series Coordinator for the Tenthani Series, Temwani Mgunda explained that the workshop is important for meaningful engagement among practioners in the media industry and those aspiring to become journalists.

“Kakhobwe has vast experience in the media industry and has done a lot of media reserch,” Mgunda said.

A third year Bachelor of Arts in Journalism student Aubrey Moyo described the workshop as one that brings sanity into the media industry by training duty mindful journalists.

“I would like to encourage my fellow students to keep attending such kind of functions as they dwell much on the challenges the media practitioners are facing. In class we can not learn everything like the strength, opportunitities, rules and regulations of how journalism is being practiced out there,” Moyo said.

In attendance were practicing journalists from the corporate world, government instituitions, lecturers and students.