Government and media commit to ethical reporting
03 Aug 2026
In an era where public trust is paramount, responsible journalism relies not just on ethical reporting from the newsroom, but on open and transparent doors within government.
That emanated from a recent consultative meeting between Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa and media editors, to discuss
issues of national importance.
Both parties underscored the need for stronger collaboration to promote informed public discourse and advance national development.
Addressing editors, Minister Mohwasa highlighted the critical role of the media in shaping public opinion and therefore implored journalists to uphold the highest
standards of professionalism and ethics by delivering factual, balanced and constructive news.
The minister highlighted that responsible journalism required truthfulness and accountability, thus urged media practitioners to cover stories accurately without
resorting to sensationalism.
“We do not intend to interfere with the media’s right to report. However, journalists should ensure that the information they publish educates and informs the public
rather than unnecessarily tarnishing the image of the country,” said the minister.
On one hand, while he encouraged journalists to consider the broader impact of its coverage, the minister acknowledged government’s duty to foster a healthy media
ecosystem.
He stated that state institutions must become more responsive by providing journalists with timely and accurate information, noting that robust public access to
data was essential for credible reporting.
Editors welcomed the dialogue but laid out the operational bottlenecks hampering newsrooms across the country.
Private and public media editors alike pointed to severe capacity and resource constraints, copyright restrictions, logistical hurdles and difficulties in covering state events.
Private media editors voiced frustration over access to officials and information, noting that interview requests were routinely denied, while formal questionnaires often go unanswered or delayed.
To deliver accurate and balanced reporting that government expected, editors highlighted that state departments must open communication channels and engage equitably with all media houses, regardless of ownership.
Meanwhile, despite the hurdles raised, the engagement ended with both sides committing to building a constructive partnership entrenched in transparency, mutual
respect and open communication to better serve the public interest. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : BOPA
Location : Gaborone
Event : Address of editors
Date : 03 Aug 2026
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