Aspiring journalist offers insights on media freedom and information access in Zambia (video)

Ireen Mundia, a student journalist, has contributed to the discourse on media freedoms, drawing from her internship experience at Byta FM radio in Choma.

Reflecting on her career, Mundia noted an improvement in Zambia’s media landscape, citing a lack of threats or harassment toward journalists or media institutions.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Choma, Mundia affirmed that she had not experienced harassment during her work and believed in the freedom to access information.

She defined media freedom as the right for journalists to obtain information without fear of intimidation, emphasizing its importance in conducting interviews and reporting.

“This is the freedom that gives us journalists to interview any person without fear of being harassed,” Mundia said.

However, she acknowledged challenges in accessing certain information, particularly from sectors like the police, health, and education, where individuals are often reluctant to speak without higher authority approval.

“So, there is certain information that is very strict, so I do not think they [news sources] can be able to give you such information unless if you are dealing with lighter information or issues.

“From what I have experienced if you are dealing with…let us say if you want to interview people in the police sector or health sector and teaching sector is where I found most challenges because you will find that most people in those sectors do no really come out and talk unless maybe someone who is higher in authority allows them,” she concluded.

Her insights highlight the paradox of journalists operating without harassment but facing obstacles in accessing crucial information necessary for news articles.

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