The Media Council of Malawi has emphasized the need for media professionals to uphold ethical standards during elections.
MCM Executive Director, Moses Kaufa, made the call at a two-day workshop on election coverage taking place in Mangochi under the theme, “Rethinking Community Broadcasting and Ethics Ahead of September 2025 Elections”.
He emphasized the importance of media adhering to ethical standards, specifically avoiding being lured by financial incentives that will compromise professionalism during elections. The Director further asked the broadcasters to help their audiences distinguish facts from fake news, safeguard democratic processes, and promote fair coverage of all political institutions.
Kaufa highlighted the need for strong collaboration with civil society, academic institutions, and international organizations to enhance the credibility of election coverage, as well as the use of new media technologies for fact-checking and public reporting to combat misinformation.
The council has since urged all stakeholders to actively participate in ensuring transparent and ethical media coverage of the electoral process, while also committing to ethical practices in their election reporting.
In his remarks, Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu stressed the importance of safeguarding the free flow of information and urged the media to be apolitical but independently contribute to public awareness, engagement, and empowerment.
“As we play our various roles in the electoral process, it is imperative that, as journalists, we remind ourselves of the fact that elections are sensitive matters. Hence, we must always strive to ensure that our reporting, programming, and analysis are not lacking in any way,” he said.
He added that the media can achieve this by prioritizing accuracy and truth, while keeping in mind that the spread of fake news has serious consequences.
Organized by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), the event has brought together community broadcasters and District Information Officers from across the country.
