"The SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport is undoubtedly a very bold step by governments in the region to harmonise their laws and policies in ways that would promote media freedom and create enabling conditions for the free flow of information. However, some provisions of the protocol re ... nege on the same noble ideas the governments seek to advance. The protocol raises two major concerns, which are: the accreditation of journalists and the introduction of a code of ethics. Instead of leaving the journalism profession to regulate itself, the protocol hints at governments playing a hand in the regulation of media and journalists. Legislated regulation of the media has a very negative effect on media freedom. The region has already witnessed several attempts to have journalists licensed and registered which led ultimately to closure of newspapers and the arrest and criminalizing of journalists for working without a registration. Any attempt, therefore, to have the registration and code of ethics dictated or regulated by the government is an affront to media freedom. Journalists should be free to set up self-regulatory structures without interference from government. Accreditation should be done by journalists’ bodies and should be recognized by government structures." (Preface) more

"In 1972 the Bolivian government passed a law to license journalists. This law created the "colegiado" system, providing for legally protected minimum wages, satisfactory working conditions, and restriction of journalistic employment to those with professional credentials. Although it is still too e ... arly to determine whether the law will be ignored or be used to restrict press freedom, it is believed that the "colegiado" laws will actually serve to protect journalism from governmental interference and will continue to lead toward economic and psychological benefits to the profession. Understood within the context of the Latin American situation, the statutes appear to be a giant step toward upgrading the journalistic profession in this area." (https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED170744) more