Catholic Media communications director Fr Paul Samasumo says rather than fight online media the Zambians must embrace it as it represented the future.

Fr Samasumo also urged the Zambian media not to relent in fighting archaic media laws.

"Online media is the future anywhere in the world. If we cannot embrace online media, if we cannot embrace the new trends we will remain backwards," Samasumo said.

"Even in the vatican that is the trend, the Pope is always on twiiter. Even the resignation of Pope Benedict's resignation was first announced via twitter."

The Zambian government has launched a vicious campaign against online media blocking all media outlets critical of the PF government through China sourced technology.

So far the Zambian Watchdog and the Zambia Reports have been on the receiving end of targeted closure by the government after emerging as the alternative source of news from the two government dailies and the Patriotic Front aligned Post Newspapers.

The private independent Daily Nation has been slapped with heavy legal suits including some emanating from State House.

And Samasumo urged the media to fight archaic laws like criminal defamation.

"You have to fight archaic laws like criminal defamation because that will help free the press," he said.