DRC: Media urged to respect journalistic rules and ethics

Kinshasa, May 3^rd, 2026 (CPA).- Media professionals were urged on Saturday to respect journalistic rules and ethics during a press freedom awareness march held in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. “On this World Press Freedom Day, we, women journalists, raise our voices to remind everyone that information is a responsibility, not just content to consume. We call on all media professionals as well as social media users to respect journalistic rules and ethics,” said Rachel Shako, President of the Tribune of Women in the Media (TFM). She stressed that in today’s digital era, information circulates widely on social media, but often outside professional standards ensuring credibility and reliability. “It is time to call to order not only some media professionals, but also all those who pose as journalists without respecting fundamental principles. Journalism is not a profession to be trivialized: it is a noble and demanding profession based on ethics, rigor and truth,” she added. She emphasized that journalism’s mission is to inform, educate and enlighten society, calling for responsible use of social media to avoid harmful abuses. She also warned that disinformation weakens the role of the fourth estate and hampers national development. The TFM president expressed gratitude to partners supporting the initiative, including the National Union of Cameramen of Congo (UNCC) and the UNPC. The Secretary General of the UNPC, Jasbey Zegbia, also called for respect for the profession in the digital age. He noted that due to the speed of digital information and the rise of artificial intelligence, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish professional journalistic content from ordinary posts. “We must show the world that information is governed by standards and ethics. An image alone is already a complete piece of information and must be treated as such,” he said. He further announced that since April 30, the UNPC has launched Press Freedom Month activities running until May 30, with several initiatives planned. He also condemned vandalism in the eastern part of the country, noting that the UNPC itself had been affected by the destruction of its offices in Goma, Bukavu and Okwira during their occupation.  ACP/