The Director General of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Menesia Muinjo, has urged journalists and media practitioners to work hard to preserve the country's favourable media freedom rankings.

Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index latest rankings place Namibia 23rd globally out of 180 countries and second in Africa.

Speaking during the first-ever celebration of World Press Day hosted by the NBC, Muinjo said Namibia consistently ranks high on the press freedom index. Still, such a ranking would be futile if not translated into tangible developmental goals.

The NBC staff, along with other media practitioners, reflected on the importance of media ethics, press freedom, and self-regulation.

Muinjo emphasised the need to embrace the contribution of media practitioners to society and democracy, which extends beyond the newsroom.

Applauding journalists for contributing to the positive, consistent rankings, Muinjo said they should be celebrated as a national achievement.

"Press freedom and the country's ranking are a national achievement, and in that national achievement, we play such a key role. And for 35 years now, almost 36, if you count independence, but I'm looking at NBC; the country has been doing very well."

In his address, the NBC Board Chairperson, Lazarus Jacobs, stated that contrary to popular belief, the media is not there to reveal people's doings but to simply tell the truth.

"We are here to tell the truth, the inconvenient truth, the uncomfortable truth, because at the centre of the work that we are doing is credibility... It has an obligation to serve all citizens, urban and rural, rich and poor, majority and minority; it must reflect the full diversity of society, provide educational content, preserve culture and language and ensure that even the most marginalised voices are heard."

Media Ombudsman Sadrag Shihomeka clarified the media code of ethics that governs the work of journalists.