Media position paper on Media Practitioners Bill

It is apt to indicate that the drafting of this Bill was preceded by a consultative process that sought the views of several stakeholders, culminating in an agreement on principles that should underpin any law aimed at regulating the mass media in Botswana. Some of the agreed principles include:

* To produce a more overarching media bill that covers all media;
* To produce an enabling bill consistent with international best  practice and the treaties Botswana has signed and ratified;
* To give the Press Council legal recognition;
* To promote self-regulation;
* To promote access to official information;
* To guarantee editorial independence;
* To address the Minister's role; and
* To address right of reply