Kinshasa, September 17, 2024 (ACP) – During the opening ceremony of the 10th Press Congress in Kinshasa, the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, addressed the crucial issue of the health of the media environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This intervention highlights the expectations regarding an adequate response to the challenges facing the field of communication and media.
In his speech, Patrick Muyaya stressed the importance for media professionals to play a key role in promoting media health, in line with the commitments made during the States General of Communication and Media. The Minister recalled President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi’s call to strengthen media regulatory and self-regulatory bodies, stressing that press freedom implies rights but also obligations.
He encouraged journalists to fully assume their role as scouts and bulwarks against the spread of false information, recalling that their mission to inform and educate the population is crucial for the country’s progress. He stressed that despite the emergence of new technologies and multiple sources of information, journalists remain key players in the dissemination of reliable and verified information.
Furthermore, the Minister presented the main innovations of the new press law, emphasizing the integration of the online press and community media for better regulation of the sector. He stressed the importance of granting subsidies and facilities to the media, while insisting on the need to guarantee the right of reply for any aggrieved person.
Finally, Patrick Muyaya invited participants to take into account the past and present weaknesses of the National Union of the Press of Congo (UNPC) in order to strengthen professionalism and ethics within the profession. He stressed the importance of making the Press Congress a moment of rebirth for the profession, in order to defend the truth and fight against disinformation and “Congo Bashing”.
In conclusion, the Press Congress appears as an essential opportunity to revitalize the media sector in the DRC and to strengthen the crucial role of information professionals in building an informed, educated and engaged society.