Media Council appoints new executive director

"The Medial Council of Malawi has appointed Mr. Vales Machila as its new executive director in an acting capacity effective Monday, 19th March, 2012. The appointment has been made to fill a vacancy which arose last month following the death of Mr. George Dambula," MCM announced in a media release.

Machila boasts what the council described as 'vast relevant experience', having worked for over 30 years in both the electronic and print media. Between 1978 and 1981 he attained a Diploma in Education from University of Malawi's Chancellor College as well as a Diploma in Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

During the 30 year period, Machila has worked as a secondary school teacher, news editor, freelance journalist, media consultant, book publisher as well as a newspaper columnist.

As news editor, he has worked for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Blantyre Newspapers Limited, where he was editing its three titles of The Daily Times, Malawi News and The Sunday Times. He has also managed a Catholic run socio-political magazine called MONI.

Media asked to support Machila

The statement from the council appeals to media fraternity to render support to Machila.

Machila's experience is expected to steer the institution to greater heights as most of the programmes, like accreditation of journalists and enforcement of self regulation by the media players remains stagnant.

"It is the hope of the council that the new executive director will provide the required leadership to the secretariat and offer astute advice to the government council in addition to taking the work of the council to new heights," says the statement.

MCM chairperson Reverend Patrick Semphere told Bizcommunity in February that an accreditation project launched three years ago now hangs in limbo due to financial constraints.

Machila is expected to source funding for the council, among others, to ensure that it achieves most of such programmes which remain a pipe dream. This will be in addition to non-core functions of the body, which according to Semphere, having been attracting support.

Machila will continue with a UNICEF supported project which has been running for the last three years and renewed this year in support towards child-rights reporting. He is also supposed to start implementation of a one-year grant agreement on HIV and AIDS programming support for media houses supported by the National Aids Commission (NAC).