'Freedom carries obligations and responsibilities. This applies, in particular, to the news media. Our media have an obligation to exercise their responsibilities in a manner that reflects the social, cultural and religious values of our different communities. (Pacific Magazine)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Qarase emphasizes that media freedom includes an obligation to reflect the social and religious values of all communities.
- In plain terms
- Media has a duty to respect all community values when exercising freedom.
- What can you take from it?
- Freedom is not just a right but a responsibility to the community.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who defines the social values of a nation?
- Can media truly serve everyone equally?
Another view
Reflecting all values can be impossible when community values conflict.
More from Laisenia Qarase
'While the Constitution guarantees press freedom, it must be used with sensitivity, respect and good judgement in a multi-cultural and multi-religious country …
Permalink to quote #54 'Let us respect each other and avoid causing unnecessary hurt to those with beliefs and faiths different from ours.' (Pacific Magazine)
Permalink to quote #56 'The Code (Fiji Media Council Code of Ethics) is quite clear in its guidelines on religion. Those guidelines have not been followed in this instance,' Qarase s…
Permalink to quote #53
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