Media groups recommend opening up the airwaves

After years of political instability, transforming Angola's state-run media into public service institutions is seen as a fundamental step to entrenching democracy, according to a group of international media watchdogs. A joint study, conducted earlier this year by the International Media Support Group, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and the Media Institute of Southern Africa, showed that the dissemination of information in post-war Angola remained firmly in the hands of the state. The official Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA), with the widest coverage and correspondents in all the provincial capitals, had no competition, while the national television broadcaster tended to focus its attention on events unfolding in Luanda, the capital. The study claimed evidence pointing to a bias that favoured the government and often ignored opposition views. "The station (RNA) also resorts to old-style direct propaganda against government opponents," the report said, but acknowledged that RNA had recently become "more open to debate and call-in type" programmes. It was unlikely that the government would relinquish control of the airwaves overnight, the researchers underscored, and suggested that, in the push towards transformation, efforts be made to initiate "minor projects" in state institutions. Although the campaign for greater press freedom would benefit from the establishment of an umbrella media body, it would be worthwhile to muster the support of civil society groups in this effort. However, one of the drawbacks was the existing rivalry among NGOs over funding. The proposed solution, while still advocating a media coalition, was to establish "as many concrete media projects" as possible, drawing on local expertise. According to the results of the assessment, Angolan media workers were starting to show fatigue over international experts and wanted a more active role in project implementation. Journalists had also said the ongoing revision of current media legislation was "closed" and were demanding greater involvement in the process. But a lack of basic journalistic skills was a problem expressed in all media institutions, and this was expected to become an even bigger issue as the first post-war general election approached. The researchers recommended that the journalists' union organise courses in election coverage, coupled with skills in financial and political reporting.