Balancing truth and finance in Namibia’s media

The Namibian media landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, shaped by digital disruption, economic pressures and the growing demand for ethical journalism.

Recent presentations delivered by Christof Maletsky, Dr Sadrag Shihomeka, and Mr Bartholomeus Katota at the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) Media Economic Reporting Workshop highlighted the pressing challenges facing the media industry and financial reporting, while also offering strategies to improve credibility, accountability, and professional relations.

Speaking at the event, Christof Maletsky, CEO of New Era Publication Corporation, said that Namibia’s media landscape consists of state-owned, private and community outlets, with both print and digital platforms competing for survival in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment. Advertising revenues have significantly declined in recent years, forcing outlets to rethink business models and embrace audience-first approaches such as solutions journalism.

Maletsky argued that building effective media relations requires transparency, respect and credibility, since “trust is the currency of the future”.

He cautioned organisations against using corporate jargon or resorting to “no comment”, urging them instead to maintain regular contact with journalists, respect deadlines, and provide substantive content that strengthens newsroom output.



Ethics and the Media Ombudsman

Namibia’s Media Ombudsman Dr Sadrag Shihomeka stressed that ethics remain at the heart of media practice. He defined media ethics as values such as trustworthiness, fairness, responsibility and truth, which must be upheld to preserve public confidence. According to Shihomeka, ethical challenges facing the media include biased reporting, distortion of reality, withholding information and failure to obtain consent.

The Office of the Media Ombudsman plays a crucial role in investigating complaints, adjudicating disputes, and reinforcing ethical standards across print, broadcast and digital media. Common complaints involve hate speech, incitement to violence, invasion of privacy and biased election coverage.

Shihomeka emphasised that the Ombudsman’s role is not to censor or control the media, but to guide and advise, ensuring that press freedom and accountability coexist in a democratic society.



Economic reporting and the financial sector

Turning to financial reporting, Bartholomeus Katota highlighted the importance of equipping journalists with financial literacy to better report on Namibia’s non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs). These institutions, ranging from insurers and medical aid funds to pension funds and microlenders play a critical role in the country’s economic development.

Key concepts such as assets, liabilities, equity, reserves and surplus/deficit were explained to help journalists interpret financial statements accurately.

Katota also offered practical guidelines for reading graphs and data, stressing the need to focus on trends, percentages, and context rather than overwhelming audiences with jargon.

Consumer complaints, particularly in microlending, remained a concern, with 110 cases registered m,ost related to overcharging and unauthorised deductions.

Seen together, these three perspectives underline a shared challenge: how Namibia’s media can maintain credibility, build public trust and report responsibly in an increasingly complex environment. Strengthening media relations, adhering to ethical principles, and improving financial literacy among journalists are key steps toward ensuring that the Namibian public continues to receive accurate, balanced, and trustworthy information.