Experts from various media houses, researchers, and academics gathered in Windhoek for a panel discussion on the role of the media in promoting democratic elections in Namibia.
They raised concerns about the challenges currently confronting media houses, such as the issue of financial instability, which has led to the downsizing and 'juniorization' of newsrooms.
The gathering underscored the importance of the media in shaping public awareness, ensuring transparency, and fostering informed citizen participation in democratic processes.
They also noted that newsrooms are increasingly relying on junior reporters and interns, often due to budget constraints, which impact the depth and quality of reporting.
"I think without adequate mentorship, without financial security for those people, because now you can pay them less, but they're also working on contracts. I know I was one of them, although I was the youngest of them, so I think in trying to hang on, media houses had to implement things that maybe then reduced the quality of their outputs. Which has negatively affected public trust in them," said researcher Christie Keulder.
Another notable highlight is the broader issue of inadequate public funding for the media industry.
They argued that the lack of sufficient financial support from the public purse not only strains media operations but also undermines the ability of news organisations to maintain high standards of journalism and invest in necessary resources.
Another panellist, Dr. Phillip Santos, a lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), said, "We know that Namibia is a massive geographical space with a dispersed population, and to make sure information is spread across the country, it will cost a lot of money for newsrooms, and most of them won't afford that, which necessitates some kind of support for news media."
Discussions delved into several other topics, including the tendency of media outlets to focus on stories that are less demanding, potentially neglecting more complex issues that require in-depth analysis, and youth participation in elections.
The panel also considered the media's responsibility as a public entity in safeguarding democracy and ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and transparently.
They also highlighted that the media will be under considerable scrutiny during elections and therefore should ensure accurate, unbiased reporting.
Concern was also expressed about the role of social media, describing it as an echo chamber, which Keulder felt decreased the probability of someone voting, particularly the youth.