Private media outlets must also cover government news; there is no need for every media organization to remain on-site covering protests until late at night: Ibrahim Didi
During a parliamentary debate on a resolution regarding the independence of state media, Feydhoo South MP Ibrahim Didi asserted that the principle of impartiality should apply to private media outlets as well, rather than being exclusive to the state broadcaster. He further noted that media organizations are not obligated to cover every protest and emphasized that private outlets should also provide coverage of the President's activities.
Ibrahim Didi (IB), the People's National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament for the South Feydhoo constituency. | Majilis
Ibrahim Didi (IB), the Member of Parliament for South Feydhoo, has stated that if media outlets are required to maintain impartiality, private broadcasters must adhere to the same standards as the state media. He further noted that it is not mandatory for every media organization to provide coverage of protests.
The member made these remarks during the debate on a resolution alleging that the state media has failed to fulfill its responsibilities by discriminating between political parties. The resolution further claims that the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) has been denied the opportunity to provide information to the public and that the broadcaster has failed to maintain the editorial independence mandated by law.
Debating the resolution, the member stated that the state media remains the most effectively managed media outlet in the country, noting that this has been the case under every administration. He further remarked that complaints regarding the state media are consistently raised only by the opposition.
The member stated that the state media must have established policies and standards in place.
Furthermore, the member stated that if equitable principles are to be applied in media regulation, private media outlets must adhere to the same standards as the state media. He added that not every media outlet is obligated to cover protests and emphasized that private media should also provide coverage of the President's activities.
If media regulation is to be based on principles of equality, then these standards must apply to all outlets, not just Public Service Media. Opposition media in the Maldives should also be required to report government news with the same level of fairness, honesty, and sincerity that they afford their own coverage. It is not the duty of every media organization to spend the entire day, from morning until midnight, providing live coverage of protests. Public Service Media is perhaps not the kind of outlet that strives to broadcast every instance of vulgar language and indecent imagery from these demonstrations to the public.Ibrahim Didi (IB), Member of Parliament for the Feydhoo South constituency.
The member further stated that media outlets must deliver news that is acceptable to the Maldivian public, noting that much of the current coverage fails to meet this standard. He added that, instead, there is a growing trend of media platforms being used to defame and infringe upon the reputation of individuals.
The member also criticized the frequent requests to summon ministers to Parliament, describing the practice as a waste of time.
