Media News - Thursday, July 17, 2008

Licensing plan for East Timor journos

A United Nations-sponsored lawyer has recommended that journalists in East Timor be licensed to practice and that defamation be included in the country's criminal code. Isabel Duarte, a Portuguese lawyer, was appointed by the UN Development Program at the Government's request to participate in workshops conducted throughout the country by Kolkos -- the commission for media law in East Timor. Duarte said that throughout the country journalists told her they recommended licensing to ensure professionalism of the occupation. To establish such licensing, an institution funded by the East Timor parliament, but not covered by government regulations, should be established. It should consist of journalists and media representatives from print, radio and television with an independent chair, she said. Journalists would be licensed if they were high school graduates with one year of good practice in journalism. The licensing body would also provide a mechanism in the form of a press council to deal with public complaints and to provide an alternative dispute resolution process other than going to court. The body would have control of subsidised government support to the media and ensure this support did not entail favouritism or discrimination. Duarte said any general media law adopted by the Government should include defamation in both the civil and penal codes and a freedom of information regime to allow access to public documents. That proposal has already triggered a stern response from East Timor's Journalists Association. It’s spokesperson said journalists were "appalled" that defamation could be included in a penal code. (The Australian)

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