Mali: Joliba TV defends itself before the High Authority for Communication
Homepage of the Jolibatv site, Malian media.
© Joliba TV
Text by: David Baché
3 mins
The representatives of the television channel were summoned this Monday morning by the High Authority for Communication (HAC), which demanded explanations for an editorial broadcast on September 30, in which the channel's information director worries of the danger threatening freedom of expression in Mali.
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The official media regulatory body considers the remarks as "
misconduct
".
Many, and in the first place the journalists of Joliba TV News, fear possible sanctions against the channel.
"
We explained that we were doing our job, that's all
," said a manager of the Joliba TV News channel, who was not personally present during the summons.
“
We give a voice to everyone, opponents and supporters of the authorities.
We are not in a logic of destabilization.
That's what we told them
, ”he explains.
In its letter of summons, the Malian High Authority for Communication deplored that the Joliba TV editorial program “
often used expressions with strong pejorative connotations
” about the transitional authorities.
“
We recalled the importance and the nature of this journalistic exercise.
An editorial is not a report that sticks to the facts.
It's a genre that can be opinionated, derisive or provocative.
And we really care about this editorial on our channel
!
“, Continues this framework of the Malian channel.
The incriminated editorial, broadcast on September 30, directly challenged the HAC – which had apparently offended it – on the threats to freedom of expression in Mali.
Here again, the leaders of Joliba TV tried to explain themselves.
“
Some guests refuse to come to our set because they are afraid of being arrested or lynched on social networks.
This is what we wanted to alert the High Authority to.
»
The arguments presented this morning had been the subject since last Friday, two days after the convocation addressed to the leaders of the chain, of a detailed response letter addressed to the HAC.
► To read also: Mali: the director of information of Joliba TV summoned by the High Authority for Communication
This is the second time that Joliba TV has been worried by the HAC.
She had already been the subject of a formal notice, last August, after broadcasting an interview with former Minister Tiéman Hubert Coulibaly, who was speaking from Abidjan at the time, about the international arrest warrant that the transitional Malian authorities had just issued against him.
Fearing a cancellation of the show, or even a cut off the antenna, many voices have been raised in recent days in support of Joliba TV.
Several Malian newspapers, the Groupe patronal de la presse du Mali or even organizations of West African journalists have publicly expressed their concern.
On the political side, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara recalled the importance of freedom of the press and freedom of opinion, without which “
all excesses are possible and the country would be in the abyss.
»
Asked by RFI, the HAC did not respond.
His response is expected by the end of the week.
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mali
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