The East African Press Councils (EAPC) have launched their inaugural Strategic Plan, a powerful four-year roadmap designed to revolutionise media development across the region.
The 2024-2027 plan is meticulously aligned with the East African Community’s priorities, aiming to significantly elevate the visibility and influence of the EAC’s role in fostering a thriving media landscape.
The ambitious plan targets five critical areas: cultivating conditions for robust and independent journalism, embracing innovation to keep pace with the evolving media landscape, nurturing the economic sustainability of media organisations, driving high-quality, diverse, and collaborative journalistic output, and solidifying the EAPC’s long-term capacity and impact.
This launch represents a pivotal moment, fulfilling a vision set in October 2019 by the EAPC’s founding members: to establish an organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of a free, independent and professional media in East Africa.
EAPC Chairperson, Kajubi Mukajanga, unequivocally affirmed the EAPC’s steadfast mission: “To forge a robust media environment that embodies the core tenets of pluralism, diversity, independence, and unwavering professionalism.”
He extended profound commendation to the secretariat, stating, “I extend my profound commendation to the secretariat for their tireless efforts and exceptional teamwork in bringing this to fruition. My elation is immeasurable, for this milestone has been a cherished aspiration since the very genesis of the EAPC.”
Mr Mukajanga urged for cooperation across the region, stressing that the EAPC’s allegiance to its foundational values remains paramount.
“We extend an earnest call for robust collaboration from every quarter, recognising that it is through collective endeavour that we shall construct the resilient, vibrant, and dynamic media sector East Africa so profoundly deserves”, he said.
EAPC Secretary, David Omwoyo, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Media Council of Kenya, hailed the launch as a significant milestone in the pursuit of media regulation and content moderation guided by common regional principles.
“I am pleased that the resolve of media regulators in East Africa in 2019 to have a media that operates within values that we respect is finally achieved,” he remarked.
He powerfully described the EAPC’s mission as geared towards “less of regulation and more of press freedom.”
Dr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), called for enhanced professionalism and optimum adherence to journalistic standards.
“I encourage you to continue spearheading responsible journalism in the region where the public can have trust in information, ultimately leading to enhanced press freedom,” he urged.
