The Media Ombudsman and Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's Director General have reaffirmed the critical role of ethical journalism and accurate reporting as pillars in strengthening the media sector, stressing the broadcaster's mandate to inform, educate and entertain.

The Media Ombudsman of Namibia paid a courtesy call on the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation to better understand the operations of the broadcaster and strengthen relations with the media house.

The Ombudsman says his office has not received any formal complaints against NBC since the start of his tenure.

However, he says that complaints have been submitted against other media institutions, mainly related to the failure to adhere to journalistic ethics.

He urged the national corporation to continue reporting news accurately, truthfully, and fairly, emphasising that ethical journalism remains the foundation of public trust.

"I'm always, you know, telling others when issues have been raised about their conduct, you know, like, why are you not, you know, regulating yourself? It starts with you. You know, for you to be a professional and ethical journalist, it starts with you as an individual. If you are yourself as an individual, you cannot regulate yourself. I don't think your work can also be regulated by this specific booklet. And you also have a broadcast, you know, a Broadcasting Act that you are operating from, plus some other Act of Parliament, like the Communication Act that we are doing. And we have a lot of challenges that are facing us.”

He explained that the purpose of his visit was to build a working relationship with NBC, uphold standards and best practices within the media industry, and protect the reputation of media professionals.

The Media Ombudsman also raised concern over the growing influence of content creators, stressing the need for media houses to uphold ethical standards and protect the credibility of information shared with the public.

NBC Director General Stanley Similo also urged other media houses to seek permission when using NBC content, saying that proper permission helps protect journalists and media institutions.

“What we have seen of late, I'm not too sure; most probably via the Editor's Forum, it's something that should be addressed as well. We find that houses are using our stories without seeking permission beforehand. And it's not that we will ever say no. At least they must just call the editor to say, 'We've seen you've done this; please, can you give us the permission to do that?' Even if they would credit us, it's still wrong because they still need to come to us. We must still say yes or no. And I can guarantee you we will never say no. And then equally linked to your office and the Editor's Forum, I think that's where we are today.”

Similo highlighted the importance of the corporation's mandate, as it offers multiple radio stations and media platforms across the country.