Media Statement

The Editors’ Forum of Namibia has appointed human rights lawyer Clement Daniels as
Ombudsman to deal with public complaints against the media.
Mr Daniels has a strong background with regard to human rights and the law. He worked for
the Legal Assistance Centre for 15 years and served as Director of the LAC for nearly five.
He later served as a magistrate in the regional and labour courts, and is currently employed
by the Namibian Standards Institution.
He was appointed at an extraordinary meeting of the EFN held on Friday, 7 August 2009, and
he has accepted the appointment with immediate effect. The Editors’ meeting also
unanimously adopted amendments to its Constitution, including a Code of Ethics to govern
journalists and the establishment of a self-regulatory process in respect of grievances and
complaints by members of the public against the media.
Public complaints will be dealt with by a Media Ombudsman, a Media Complaints
Committee and a Media Appeals Board established for the purpose of receiving and
adjudicating on complaints of members of the public against the media.
The EFN also adopted a Complaints Procedure in terms of the Code of Ethics.
The issue of a self-regulatory mechanism for the media has been on the agenda of the
Editors´ Forum since its formal establishment in June 2007.
In terms of the new process, the public will nominate a panel of persons (from both the
general public and the media) to serve on the Media Complaints Committee. Out of these, the
Editors’ Forum will then appoint 12 persons, six from the general public and six from the
media, to alternately sit on the Media Complaints Committee.
The Appeals Chairperson will be a retired judge or magistrate with knowledge of the
Namibia media landscape. The Editors’ Forum is currently seeking the help of the Judge
President and the Law Society in identifying such a person.
The Editors’ Forum will also embark on a campaign to familiarise the public with the Code
of Ethics as well as the complaints procedure.
The Editors Forum will be meeting with the Information and Communication Technology
Minister Joël Kaapanda, tomorrow (Thursday, August 13) and will inform him of the
developments.

Eberhard Hofmann
Chairperson
EFN Executive Committee