Mogadishu 21 January, 2010 :: The date is today 21 January, 2010 and it stands for the media day on Somalia. Before the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre regime this day has had a lot of celebrations from the government and the media practitioners in across the country but now it seems like orphan.

Indeed, Somalia has experienced dramatic media attacks, assassinations and kidnappings following two decades of insecurity and chaos in the country and more then 40 journalists have been killed in Somalia since the overthrow of Somalia military regime in 1991 whether they are Somalis or foreigners.

Absolutely, nine (9) journalists were killed, 13 others wounded while more then one hundred twenty five (125) journalists forced to leave the country following phone threat calls from the warring sides over the last year of 2009 alone.

Apart from that, the role of media in the country seems to be lagging behind the required standard to the effect that the media practitioners and media house owners are not well-trained to perform the duties in line with international media standards.

There is no contractual arrangement that bind the employers and the employee as the letter works long hours without leave and other fringe benefits and as a result some of them lost their lives without due compensation.

With petty or without offences, a journalist may be deducted his/her meager salary with undue justification and she /he could be sacked anytime the employee deems to do so with no effective journalists trade union in place that protects their rights and goodwill.

As matter-of-fact, there are dotted and pathetic journalists unions that need to be consolidated into one or two strong and effective union.

Many Somali media are not able to report the news as it is because of fear and reprisal from the both government forces, Amisom troupes, clan based militia’s and insurgents particularly Al-shabab and Hizbul Islam.

Somalia journalists whose numbers are regularly increasing need skills and knowledge empowerment to enable them do their daily behavior and actions with confidence and professionalism and so defend their rights within ethical line in their field of profession.

Journalism is a two edged weaponry!! 

The knife it’s easy to use each side and it can do trouble or grave problem against people and it can develop people or create peace and democracy it depends for those using it.

 However, there are numerous problems caused by the unskilled journalists including character assassination, partiality writing articles without re-checking, the lack of editors’ role in program making, lack of script writing and the true source of the information which cause problem to their respective media house.

At the end, apart from the above mentioned situation there was also row and infighting among Somali journalists over the past years and really is based leadership ideology within the media and journalist associations.

Although, well-wishers whether they are Somalis or foreigners are still looking for an alternative solution so that the Somali Journalist rights Agency (SOJRA) calls for the international media organizations, governments and human rights organizations particularly for those involved directly or indirectly this tight spot media war in Somalia to avoid to be one-sided supporters so as to look for a better solution then this elongated conflict among Somali journalists and media houses.

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