| Mission Statement : |
The Conselho Superior da Comunicação Social (CSCS) - Higher Media Council - is the regulatory authority through which the state guarantees the independence of the media, the freedom of press and the right to information, as well as the exercise of the right to antenna time and the right to answer (art.35). The following are the main duties of the CSCS (art.36): · To guarantee the independence and impartiality of the public sector media, as well as the autonomy of the professionals in the sector; · To verify accuracy and objectivity in the exercise of the profession in the press; · To guarantee the rights of antenna and of answer; · To promote and defend national culture and identity; · To ensure transparency in the economic rules that govern information activities; · To act in the defense of public interest; and · To ensure the respect of common social ethics. The latitudes for action of the Higher Media Council include the following (art.37): a) To obtain from any publication, and from government authorities, any information deemed necessary to carry out its tasks; b) To learn of violations of the Law (18/91) and other legal norms in the area of media, and take appropriate measures within the context of its duties; c) To deliberate on complaints addressed to it by the public, concerning the performance of any media organ; d) To take decisions on complaints addressed to it, concerning conditions of access to the political rights of antenna and of answer; e) To ensure compliance with the journalists’ deontological principles; f) To carry out the studies it deems necessary to realize its activities; g) To issue point of views and work out proposals within the scope of its duties; h) To ensure the respect of advertising norms in the area of commercial advertisement and to control the object, contents and modalities of the programming for advertisement published or broadcast by the media; i) To make use of other instruments granted by law. The Council may give recommendations to the government on matters that, in the area of the media, it thinks should be an object of specific legislation or regulation. Deliberations taken by the CSCS within its responsibilities and duties established in the sub-headings b), c), and d) are binding. 3.2.6.1 Composition of the CSCS The Higher Media Council is made up of eleven members: · Two members appointed by the President of the Republic; · Four elected by the Assembly of the Republic (the Mozambican parliament); · One judicial magistrate appointed by the Higher Judicial Magistrate Council; · Three representatives from the journalists’ sector, elected by their respective professional organizations; · One representative from media organisations or journalistic institutions (art.38). Source : AMARC Country Report Mozambique - Global Advocacy Project 2004-2005 |
