23 Aug 23, 2007 - 1:14:28 PM
BOSSASO, Somalia Aug 23 (Garowe Online) - Journalists and other media personalities in the Puntland regions of northern Somalia gathered at Hotel Panorama in the port city of Bossaso, the region's commercial hub.
More than 50 people that included journalists, Puntland government officials and members of the public met at Hotel Panorama for a three-day conference on media-related issues that opened Wednesday.
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Journalists at Hotel Panorama [Aug 22] Image: Garowe Online
The media conference is intended to name journalists who would represent Puntland-based news organizations in the proposed National Media Council (NMC) of Somalia, organizers said.
The conference would also debate on the proposed Media Bill, which the Somali interim parliament in Baidoa is scheduled to reopen debate on soon.
The conference erupted in dispute Thursday after a radio station with close ties to the government of Puntland garnered "unfair influence" in the selection process for Puntland representatives in the proposed nation-wide media committee.
Several radio directors from Nugal, Mudug and Bari walked out in protest at the intervention. Journalists from Sool, Sanaag and Ayn, regions claimed by the Puntland government, were not present at Hotel Panorama because they did not receive invitation papers to attend, our sources said.
beloThe protesting radio directors questioned the independence of the NMC, some of whose members were not approved by Puntland media organizations.
Meanwhile, open debate continued among the conference's participants regarding the Puntland government's relations with the media.
Some news agency directors accused the Puntland ministry of information of being "selective" when it comes to fairly sharing news with Puntland-based agencies, and that the ministry shares information with news agencies allied to the government's political agenda.
Source: Garowe Online
