Statements and Reports

The Media Institute of Southern Africa, MISA Namibia, yesterday (31 August 2010) elected a new National Governing Council at the organisations 10th Annual General Meeting held in Windhoek. [more]

The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) has noted with disappointment that there is lack of respect for media freedom and freedom of expression in the country. The media in Malawi continue to be threatened by government authorities and other sectors of society, including some members of the public.[more]

While all media paid attention to the death of MDC-M Deputy President and former trade unionist, Gibson Sibanda, only the private media publicized the ensuing debate on the controversial criteria used to select national heroes in the country. The logistical and administrative obstacles bedevilling the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac)’s outreach consultative programme amid an appeal by the committee for more money to fund an extension of the exercise attracted significant media interest too.[more]

MISA-Zimbabwe condemns the recent government ban on any films and Bulawayo-based artiste Owen Maseko’s exhibition depicting Gukurahundi disturbances that took place after independence. [more]

The “SOS: Support Public Broadcasting” Campaign representing a number of trade unions including COSATU, COSATU affiliates CWU and CWUSA, FEDUSA and BEMAWU; independent film and TV production sector organisations including the South African Screen Federation (SASFED); and a host of NGOs and CBOs including the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-SA) and the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF); as well as a number of academics and freedom of expression activists welcome the SABC Board’s decision to suspend the SABC’s CEO, Solly Mokoetle.[more]

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Group Chief Executive Officer, Solly Mokoetle, has been suspended. On 27 August 2010 the broadcasters’ board took a decision to suspend Mokoetle following a disastrous leadership to the beleaguered public broadcaster.[more]

Cape Town — The government is prepared to entertain changes to the controversial Protection of Information Bill but has warned that this can be done only as far as "is practicable and reasonable".[more]

JOHANNESBURG, September 2 – Leading African media executives are preparing to meet in Tanzania from 26-29 September for the 2010 edition of the Africa Media Leadership Conference (AMLC). This year’s summit will focus on identifying and developing “Sustainable Media Business Models in the Digital Age”.[more]

A Togolese court has indefinitely suspended the distribution of a Benin newspaper after crippling it with a defamation charge and heavy fines for publishing an article linking Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé's brother with drug trafficking, report the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).[more]

Five Ugandan judges ruled in favour of press freedom on 25 August by declaring the country's criminal sedition offense unconstitutional, report the Human Rights Network for Journalists - Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). But the government continues to threaten journalists with other legal actions.[more]

Journalism and media schools in South Africa have signed a joint statement opposing the proposed Protection of Information bill and Media Appeals Tribunal. In its current form, the bill offers provisions for the government to classify documents such as government contracts or those produced by state-owned enterprises as secret. Any journalist who published such documents could then face a lengthy jail sentence.[more]

Union leaders and journalists from across Africa will gather tomorrow, Thursday 2nd September 2010 at 9:30 am, at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a key meeting to discuss the safety and protection of journalists working across the continent.[more]

A petition launched by the Right2Know Campaign, a civil society-organized lobby, to defend the free flow of information and a free media: A responsive and accountable democracy that can meet the basic needs of our people is built upon transparency and the free flow of information. The gains of South Africans' struggle for freedom are threatened by the Protection of Information Bill (the Secrecy Bill) currently before Parliament. We accept the need to replace apartheid-era secrecy legislation. However, this Bill extends the veil of secrecy in a manner reminiscent of that same apartheid past.[more]

A Somali reporter was viciously stabbed to death in the Galkayo district of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, on 31 August, report the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).[more]

The South Africa National Editors' Forum has announced the launch of "a coalition to spearhead efforts to promote and entrench freedom of speech across all levels of South African society." The Coalition for Free Speech will aim to challenge the Protection of Information Bill, seen as secrecy legislation, as well the African National Congress's proposed media appeals tribunal. [more]

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has serious concerns about the wisdom and the constitutionality of the Protection of Information Bill currently before Parliament, as well as about the need for the establishment of a Media Appeals Tribunal. [more]

Kudakwashe Zvarayi, a Kwekwe-based freelance journalist in the Midlands province was on 27 August 2010 arrested in Bulawayo while taking pictures of the statue of Zimbabwe’s deceased Vice President Joshua Nkomo.[more]

A coalition has been launched to emphasise the importance of free speech to all sectors of society, not just the media, the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) has announced. [more]

Reporters Without Borders is very disappointed by the six-month jail sentence which a Dakar court has imposed on Abdourahmane Diallo, the editor of the Express News daily, for defaming President Abdoulaye Wade's chief of staff, Pape Samba Mboup. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Diallo, who was tried in absentia, but he has not yet been detained.[more]

Reporters Without Borders and Journalist in Danger (JED), its local partner organisation, wrote to President Joseph Kabila today to condemn the steady decline in the climate for journalists and the reduction in the space for free expression in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two organisations, which are particularly worried about Jullson Eninga, a journalist who is facing a possible 20-year jail sentence or even the death penalty on a charge of treason, urged President Kabila to undertake courageous and major reforms to promote press freedom and improve the climate before next year's presidential election. This is the text of the letter:[more]

ADDIS ABABA: The media has been invited to attend a workshop on the safety and protection of African journalists to be held from 2-3 September 2010 at the headquarters of the African Union Commission (AUC) in Ethiopia hosted by the Division of Communication and Information (DCI) of the AUC, in collaboration with the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ). The theme of the workshop is 'Peace and security for African journalists'. Renew peace-building efforts.[more]

Special to the NNPA from GIN –

(GIN) – South Africa’s investigative reporters say they fear a proposed “media tribunal” could end their exposes of public corruption and maladministration by government officials.[more]

Journalism schools have added their voices to criticism of the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill. "We reject the proposal for a Media Appeals Tribunal and the current version of the Protection of Information Bill," they said in a statement. "We are also extremely concerned about a climate of intimidation and suspicion that has included the heavy-handed arrest of journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika," they said. Wa Afrika was arrested in in early August. [more]

Media debate over the ruling of the SADC summit on Zimbabwe’s power-sharing standoff intensified this week, eclipsing other contemporary issues such as the ongoing consultative phase of constitution making and developments in the contentious Chiadzwa diamonds mining saga. The media’s coverage of the constitutional outreach exercise mainly focused on the intimidation and vio lence characterizing the process while differences between the ZANU PF arm of government and a coalition of civic organizations over whom to appoint as a local focal person to monitor Zimbabwe’s compliance with the Kimberley Process recommendations, highlighted the latest controversy in the mining of Chiadzwa diamonds.[more]

The South African Editors’ forum (Sanef) has secured a court interdict to stop the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board hearing with Parliament Portfolio Committee on Communications. Sanef brought an urgent application to the Western Cape High Court on 24 August 2010, after it was made clear by the committee on communications that the hearing will take place in closed doors.[more]

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha has described the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) as a fraud that can not sustain the challenges involved in media regulation without power to enforce decisions because it is not backed by law.[more]

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has released a strongly-worded statement noting their concerns over the Protection of the Information Bill, the ANC's proposed Media Appeals Tribunal, and the ongoing governance crisis at the SABC. Released by the trade union organisation's Central Executive Comittee, the statement sets out their deep concerns over the three biggest media debates in South Africa right now.[more]

The Union of Independent Journalists of Togo (UJIT) in a statement to the Togolese authorities demanded protection of its members to enable them carry out their legitimate duties without fear or intimidation.[more]

The interim interdict by the Western Cape High Court, against the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications on holding a hearing of a briefing by the SABC behind closed doors, was welcomed yesterday, Tuesday, 24 August 2010, by the Press Gallery Association (PGA) and the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF), which will be hosting a media freedom summit in Johannesburg early next week.[more]

PRETORIA - The South African National Press Club has called on the government and the ruling African National Congress to “seriously rethink its stance” on the controversial Protection of Information Bill and the proposed Media Tribunal Bill.[more]

JOHANNESBURG — Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer is leading South African writers in speaking out against proposals she fears will muzzle freedom of speech in her homeland. Gordimer said Tuesday she and fellow writer Andre Brink — both veterans of the anti-apartheid movement — were moved to take action because the white government once banned their work. They know "what censorship can do," she said.[more]

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) expresses sadness and deep grief over the death of prominent journalist Barkhad Awale Adan, who was killed on the afternoon of 24 August 2010 in clashes between the Transitional Federation Government and the Islamist group Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu.[more]

The South African commercial broadcasters have expressed their concerns over government decision to revisit the standards debate, saying any setbacks will prolong the country’s digital migration by years and put the country’s commitment to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to achieve full switchover by mid-2015 in doubt.[more]

The chorus of voices opposing the South African government's proposed Protection of Information Bill and state-backed ombudsman continue to grow. South Africa's Business Day estimates the press produces three articles per day opposing what many journalists see as an attempt by the ruling party to muzzle investigative reporting. More than 30 editors from major papers published protest messages mid-month calling on the government to abandon the planned legislation. But the South African media has yet to coordinate a mass protest comparable to that successfully orchestrated by Kenyan journalists in 2007 against the country's media bill. And President Jacob Zuma, infamous for issuing defamation suits against a critical South African press, may not back down easily in the face of public criticism. [more]

Popular Media, Democracy and Development in Africa examines the role that popular media could play to encourage political debate, provide information for development, or critique the very definitions of ‘democracy’ and ‘development’. Drawing on diverse case studies from various regions of the African continent, essays employ a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to ask critical questions about the potential of popular media to contribute to democratic culture, provide sites of resistance, or, conversely, act as agents for the spread of Americanized entertainment culture to the detriment of local traditions. A wide variety of media formats and platforms are discussed, ranging from radio and television to the Internet, mobile phones, street posters, film and music.[more]

Parliament portfolio committee on communications (PPCC) has summoned the South African Corporate Corporation (SABC) board to explain the turmoil at the broadcaster and within the board. The board will meet the National Assembly’s communications committee on 24 August 2010. Committee chairman Ismail Vadi said the decision to call in the entire board had been prompted by an apparent corporate governance calamity within the board.

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President Mugabe’s visit to China, during which China reportedly extended further financial assistance to Zimbabwe, came a close second in the government-controlled media. However, while the government media attached significance to the trip, the private media paid more attention to the SADC summit in Namibia, especially on whether it would finally resolve Zimbabwe’s protracted power-sharing dispute. The ongoing public consultation phase of the constitutional making process also remained a generally popular subject of debate in all the media: the private media outlets emphasized problems plaguing it, especially reports of violence and intimidation, while the official media dismissed these as a plot to discredit the exercise.[more]

The media fraternity spearhead by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Botswana), has roped in other civil society organisations in their looming court case to overturn the Media Practitioners Act. The constitutional Challenge was launched with the High Court on 13 August 2010. Represented by Attorney Dick Bayford and Advocate Steven Budlender from South Africa, the 32 applicants that include the media, churches, trade unions and prominent individuals are arguing that the Media Practitioners Act is in conflict with the constitution of the Republic of Botswana.[more]

On 11 August 2010, the National Constitution Conference (NCC) rejected the submissions made by MISA-Zambia and various media organizations towards the 2010 Draft constitution when it met to discuss submissions made towards the 2010 Draft Constitution.[more]

The Society of Senior Zambian Journalist (SSZJ) had an emergency executive meeting on 13 August 2010, at which they agreed to intensify consultations with various stakeholders on the issue of media regulation in Zambia. According to the SSZJ Chairperson Ridgeway Liwena, the meeting was attended by SSZJ Chairperson, his Deputy Augustine Seyuba, Secretary Simone Mwale, Vice Treasurer Cosmo Mulongoti and Vice Secretary Gillian Mukula-Mwaba. [more]

We have called this briefing to update the media and the nation at large on the new developments that have taken place since we announced last week that the launch of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) would take place on Thursday, 26th August 2010. [more]

Funding African Media in an Age of Uncertain Business Models will be the main theme of the African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) when it meets in Yaoundé, Cameroon in November. The Forum is the flagship programme of the African Media Initiative (AMI) and is the only annual gathering of African media owners and operators from around the continent. “The main objective of the Forum is to facilitate the emergence of an African media sector that is professional, financially sustainable, technologically adaptable and socially responsible,” according to Amadou Mahtar Ba, AMI CEO.[more]

The Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA), a sub-regional body of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)- a regional body of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Tuesday, 17 August 2010, launched its website.[more]

A Zimbabwean minister who threatened to jail journalists should retract his statement and honor an agreement to implement media reform, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.[more]

Funding African Media in an Age of Uncertain Business Models will be the main theme of the African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) when it meets in Yaoundé, Cameroon in November.[more]

Sixteen years after freedom, South Africa's young and fragile democracy continues to mature and has surpassed that of some of the world's most developed democracies. The features and strength of any democracy is amongst others, robust and open debate, without fear and prejudice.[more]

Funding African Media in an Age of Uncertain Business Models will be the main theme of the African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) when it meets in Yaoundé, Cameroon in November.[more]

When on 18 March this year the Daily Nation, one of Africa's biggest and most successful independent newspapers, celebrated its 50th anniversary, Charles Onyango Obbo, a columnist for the Nairobi, Kenya, paper, wrote, "It has mostly been hell on earth for the African media for most of these 50 years. In fact the freest period for the African media generally has been the 15-year period between 1990 and 2005."[more]

Abdifatah Jama Mire, the deputy director of a radio station based in Bosaso, in the semi-autonomous northeastern region of Puntland, was sentenced to six years in prison in a summary trial in Bosaso today for interviewing a local rebel chief linked to Al-Qaeda.[more]

A Ugandan journalist has been accused of sedition after writing two articles that speculated whether the Ugandan government was involved in July bomb attacks in Kampala, report the Human Rights Network of Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The sedition law is routinely used against dissident journalists. More than a dozen Ugandan journalists are currently being prosecuted under the law.

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Reporters Without Borders welcomes yesterday’s provisional release of Thierry Ndayishimiye, the editor of the weekly Arc-en-ciel, after two days in pre-trial detention in Bujumbura on a charge of libelling the head of the national water and power company, REGIDESO.[more]

Ghana’s former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, on August 10, 2010 said that history had vindicated his government for the repeal of the criminal libel and sedition laws that were used to jail journalists and perceived political opponents. [more]

Reporters Without Borders, an international press freedom organisation, regrets the incredible irresponsibility you showed when posting your article “Afghan War Diary 2004 - 2010” on the Wikileaks website on 25 July together with 92,000 leaked documents disclosing the names of Afghans who have provided information to the international military coalition that has been in Afghanistan since 2001.[more]

WINDHOEK, Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) is holding consultative workshops in various Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries on the findings of studies conducted on mainstreaming gender in the media, Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA) reported.[more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the Senegalese authorities to put an end to the legal proceedings against Abdou Latif Coulibaly, investigative journalist and Director of Publication of the weekly magazine, La Gazette, who was charged on July 10, 2010 for “concealment of administrative and private documents pertaining to the Senegalese National Lottery (LONASE)” following a complaint of its Managing Director Mr. Baila Wane. [more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called for immediate and unconditional release of Thierry Ndayishimiye, Director and Publisher of the private weekly magazine Arc-en-ciel, who was arrested on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 and detained at the central prison of Mpimba in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi.[more]

The South African Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa is deeply concerned about the restrictions on the practice of journalism that are likely to arise should the draft Protection of Information Bill be enacted by parliament. The Bill is currently being examined by a special Ad Hoc Committee set up by parliament.[more]

Pretoria High Court, Judge Johan Kruger has ordered police to release Mzilikazi wa Africa on 5 August 2010, ahead of his formal bail application in the Nelspruit Regional Court on 6 August 2010. Handing down his judgement Kruger said, it is not in the best interest of the rule of law and it would be unlawful to detain wa Africa for one minute longer. Adding that he is of the view that justice will be served upon his release.[more]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested a meeting with President Zuma in the hope to sway him to withdraw the controversial Protection of Information Bill that is currently being discussed in Parliament, the party is still waiting for a response from the office of the president.[more]

Harare City Council’s defiance of a government directive to reduce salaries for council senior management added spice to an otherwise quiet week in which the government-controlled media flooded their audiences with news on Heroes’ and Defence Forces ’ Day commemorations.[more]

New York, August 9, 2010—The Sudanese government has announced it is suspending the BBC’s license to broadcast in Arabic on local FM frequencies in four northern cities, including the capital, Khartoum. Security personnel also informed editors in recent days that journalists who had not completed an extensive government questionnaire would be detained, journalists told CPJ. [more]

In terms of freedom of expression and democratic and media pluralism, Mali is undeniably today one of the leading countries in francophone Africa. In this year marking the 50th anniversary of Mali’s independence, the country’s media pool includes 300 private FM radio stations, and about 50 newspapers and periodicals. [more]

Former President J.A. Kufuor has explained that even though people are abusing current air of freedom, a time will come when they will adapt themselves to the situation. Making the point that the country’s democracy has not yet matured from an insulated society the former president was certain that “we are gradually on the way there.[more]

"No one but you!" supporters of President Paul Kagame have shouted at recent election rallies with many waving the red, white, and blue flags that symbolize the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front party, according to local and international reports. But journalists critical of the ruling party could not document firsthand the campaign that ended today because the government systematically shut their news outlets and swept them out of the country in a campaign of intimidation. [more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the Senegalese authorities to put an end to the legal proceedings against Abdou Latif Coulibaly, investigative journalist and Director of Publication of the weekly magazine, La Gazette, who was charged on July 10, 2010 for “concealment of administrative and private documents pertaining to the Senegalese National Lottery (LONASE)” following a complaint of its Managing Director Mr. Baila Wane.[more]

(HRNJ-Uganda/IFEX) - On the afternoon of 4 August 2010, Kampala police searched the residence of the embattled "Uganda Record" journalist Timothy Kalyegira, who is facing charges of sedition. Since 2 August, Kalyegira has been in and out of police custody on allegations of publishing seditious materials on the "Uganda Record" website. "Uganda Record" is one of Uganda's online magazines. [more]

Zambia has finally brought to Parliament the 2002 Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act for enactment. Under normal circumstances, this would be an occasion to celebrate, as MISA Zambia and its partners have long advocated for implementation of the IBA and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation amendment acts.[more]

The Mozambican telecommunications regulatory body, INCM,has accepted technical bids from three companies hoping to acquire the country’s third mobile phone licence. According to INCM general director, Americo Muchanga, 22 companies purchased the tender documents, but only six submitted bids. [more]

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has finally appointed a Director General, after a year and a half of searching.

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Voice of Zimbabwe radio, a subsidiary of the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) was officially launched in Gweru on July 30. While the restrictive Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) acknowledges the three-tier broadcasting system comprising public, private and community radio, no single private player has been allowed to enter the broadcasting sector since its enactment in 2001. [more]

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) on July 19 brought together media managers and the parliamentary committee on Media and Communications to review the country’s Communications Act. The current act, which was enacted in 1998, has several shortcomings and fails to address emerging innovations and communication tools such as the Internet.[more]

United States Ambassador to Lesotho Robert Nolan, has called on the government of Lesotho to give all stakeholders access to state-controlled media. Nolan made the call on the occasion of the celebration of the 234th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.[more]

The Lesotho chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa on July 9 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the community of Mafeteng on the setting up of a community broadcasting station. According to MISA Lesotho, broadcasting equipment has already been secured and an application has been made to the regulator for a community broadcasting license.[more]

The state Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS), has banned trade unions from accessing the radio station unless they have been sanctioned by the police. According to a new policy introduced by the radio station, trade unions are now banned from airing their announcements on radio unless these are accompanied by police approval.[more]

The SABC board has vowed to investigate allegations that the broadcaster's acting head of news, Phil Molefe, has banned staff at the national broadcaster from interviewing former president Thabo Mbeki. The Sunday Times reported that Molefe ordered news executives to stop interviewing Mbeki on all SABC radio stations and television channels.[more]

SABC board chairman Ben Ngubane has defended the public broadcaster’s embattled chief executive, Solly Mokoetle, and slammed his own board members as “indisciplined” for speaking out publicly about tension within management. Ngubane was responding to reports that some board members had threatened to resign unless Mokoetle quit because of unhappiness with his leadership. [more]

SABC board chairman Ben Ngubane and group CEO Solly Mokoetle, who are said to be enjoying support from President Jacob Zuma, are fighting an incessant rear-guard battle against the board on many fronts - including that the board wants Mokoetle to quit or they will.[more]

The SABC is in a corporate governance crisis, with several board members calling for the head of group CEO Solly Mokoetle. Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda recently held a meeting with the SABC board at which some mooted the removal of Mokoetle as positions hardened on the controversial appointment of head of news Phil Molefe, which was overturned by the board.[more]

A new bill proposing substantial changes to how the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, (ICASA) functions has been criticised by industry players as an attempt by the communications minister to erode its independence. The ICASA Amendment Bill is the second bill — the first being the controversial Public Service Broadcasting Bill — which has prompted an outcry from the industry. It is argued that it gives too much power to the minister.[more]

Zambia’s Parliamentary Committee on Information and Broadcasting presented a report on digital migration to Parliament on July 1 in which it recommended the need for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services to urgently put in place measures to ensure smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.[more]

Zambian President Rupiah Banda has authorised the establishment of a digital migration National Taskforce to oversee the implementation of digital migration broadcasting in Zambia. Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha said the taskforce will be responsible for the transition to digital broadcasting which is supposed to be done by 2015, a deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).[more]

For the third time this year, MISA Zambia Chapter made a submission before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Broadcasting. MISA Zambia’s desire is to see a free and vibrant media sector that plays a role in national development and the promotion of good governance and democracy by offering a platform through which citizens express themselves freely.[more]

The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) bill went through the second reading on July 30 after a split vote in which Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling party and some sections of opposition MPs voted in favour of the Bill.[more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA), have expressed deep concern about the campaign of intimidation against media by the government of Burundi and have called for charges against a leading journalist to be dropped.[more]

One out of 10 delegates participating this week in U.S. President Barack Obama's Young African Leaders Forum was a journalist. The forum, a U.S. initiative meant to spark discussions on the future of Africa in a year when 17 countries on the continent are celebrating 50 years of nationhood, did not overlook freedom of the press, as I witnessed in its final event on Thursday at Washington's museum of news, the Newseum.[more]

Since a week after September 11, 2001, when the government of Eritrea threw into secret prisons journalists from its once-vibrant private press, the only certainty it has offered about the fate of the prisoners has been ambiguity. Over the years, officials have offered various explanations for the arrests—from nebulous anti-state conspiracies involving foreign intelligence to press law violations.[more]

Tributes to President Mugabe’s sister and national heroine, Sabina, following her death on July 29, and President Mugabe’s renewed attacks on the West for allegedly interfering in Zimbabwe’s affairs during a graveside speech at her burial, made headlines in the government-controlled media.[more]

Media professional groups in Benin are accusing the country’s authorities of halting the transmission of Radio France International (RFI), on August 2, 2010 and denying the population access to a programme on corruption allegations against President Boni Yayi. [more]

The authorities in Benin on August 3, 2010 threatened to deal with both local and foreign media in the country, that fail to abide by ethics of the profession, especially in the recent corruption allegations leveled against President Boni Yayi. [more]

(HRNJ-Uganda/IFEX) - "Uganda Record" journalist Timothy Kalyegira has been charged with sedition over a story about a bomb blast. Kalyegira, who was summoned on 29 July 2010, was arrested on 2 August at the Kibuli Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters and released on bond. [more]

Reporters Without Borders condemns the one-year jail sentence and fine of 5 million CFA francs that an Abidjan criminal court has imposed on Traoré Médandjé, a leading reporter for the daily L’Intelligent d’Abidjan, on charges of defaming and trying to blackmail a former health ministry official.[more]

In our last Weekly Media Review (No.27/2010), MMPZ incorrectly stated that the Mahendere Brothers produced the Nyatsoterera album and that they participated in former information minister Jonathan Moyo’s 2002 Pax Afro project. [more]

Authorities arrested a journalist on Tuesday on criminal defamation charges in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hours earlier, in an unrelated incident, armed men briefly forced the city’s three main opposition broadcasters off the air, according to local journalists and news reports.[more]

The authorities in Niger have suspended a June 3, 2010 Decree which the country’s media and civil society groups say would restrict information flow and gag foreign journalists.[more]

An Ivorian judge on Monday ordered the release of three journalists who had been jailed for a story citing a leaked official document, but he imposed a fine and suspension on their newspaper, according to local journalists and news reports. [more]

New York, July 23, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ghana’s attorney general to drop prosecution of prominent journalist Ato Kwamena Dadzie under the 1960 criminal code in an attempt to get him to reveal his sources.

This is a tiny snatch from the draft of a chapter I have written for a book on religion and journalism. (Declaration of interest: I am an atheist). I once presented a BBC documentary on the subject and last year spoke at a conference on religion and news. I have remained fascinated by it ever since. I welcome any comments, references, links or suggestions on the topic.[more]

Amnesty International has called on Somali authorities and armed opposition groups in the country to respect freedom of expression amid a growing government crackdown on independent journalism. A campaign of harassment and intimidation has seen a spate of arrests and interrogations of journalists since June. Media workers already face serious threats from armed groups, with 10 reporters killed in the last 18 months. [more]

A new daily publication, The New Age was launched on 22 June 2010 in Johannesburg. Former minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad said, the paper will be critical but constructive, it will gather reports and news from the nine (9) provinces of the country which most newspapers don’t do. Adding that the newspaper will cover the good stories coming out of provinces that had been painted by the media as having no stability and lack of service delivery.[more]

Journalists and media organisations have denounced the move by the Securities Commission of Zimbabwe (SEC) to register financial journalists as securities investor advisers in terms of the Securities Act of 2004.[more]

Lawmakers were warned again on 22 July 2010 that the Protection of Information Bill would not survive Constitutional Court scrutiny because it rides roughshod over media freedom and the democratic values of transparency and accountability.[more]

On 21 July 2010 Swazi traditional authorities threatened Swazi journalists with death if they continued to write stories considered by the authorities as undermining the country’s leadership and system of government.[more]

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has suspended its plans to issue four radio frequency licences, after companies objected to its auction process. The spectrum can be used to build wireless broadband networks that cover large areas and transmit high volumes of traffic cheaply. This will also increase competition in the market.[more]

I will continue to relive for a long time August 5, 1960, the day Upper Volta, as Burkina Faso was then known, proclaimed independence from France! As a presenter of the newly founded national radio network, I was on the air, which was open to listeners all night.[more]

Madagascar recently celebrated its 50th Independence Day, a milestone for a Malagasy press that has been documenting through difficult periods the nation’s tumultuous journey of self-rule. The funny thing is that most of our written press is in French, as in most former French colonies, and we never really question why that is or find issue with it.[more]

As parliamentary hearings on the Protection of Information Bill begin in South Africa today, the International Press Institute expressed its concern over many of the provisions contained in the draft legislation, arguing that they should explicitly take into account journalists acting in the public interest. [more]

From today, you now have an alternative web address to visit the CPJ website. As well as our usual cpj.org address, you can visit our site securely at https://cpj.org/. We’ve turned on this feature to help protect our readers who are at risk of surveillance and censorship, and as part of a wider advocacy mission to encourage social networking and media sites to do the same.[more]

The return of ZANU PF propaganda songs on all stations of the national public broadcaster, ZBC, graphically illustrates the extent to which the country’s sole broadcasting station remains ZANU PF’s propaganda tool despite it losing the 2008 elections.[more]

In the year marking the 50th anniversary of Togo’s independence, the Togolese press is suffering from an obvious malaise—a malaise perceived by the informed citizen and not by communications professionals themselves. This malaise transpires in the daily practice of journalism through the lack of professionalism.[more]

Colleagues of a radio journalist who was attacked by unknown assailants on July 16, 2010 are suspecting the military of being behind the attack. “Mansaré must have been a victim of an action carried out by persons hostile to his reports possibly, it is a settlement of scores,” according to a colleague of Mansare who spoke to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent in Guinea on condition of anonymity. [more]

VIENNA, 21 July 2010 (PlusNews) - It's a story of sexy young guys and girls having a good time in the big city, of friendships pushed to the edge, and families struggling to survive, but underneath all the drama, MTV's "Shuga" is a story about HIV.

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Three editors of privately-owned daily, Le Noveau Courier newspaper detained by the Ivorian authorities for refusing to reveal their sources of information over a July 13 publication will appear before the Plateau Magistrate court in Abidjan, the capital on July 21. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent in Cote d’Ivoire reported that the journalists could go to prison for a year , if the court grants a request by Oulaï Fernand, the prosecutor in the case. [more]

New York, July 19, 2010—Burundian authorities’ arrest on Saturday of journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu on treason charges over commentary critical of the country’s security forces is alarming, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. He is being held in Mpimba prison in the capital, Bujumbura.[more]

Ato Kwamena Dadzie, news editor of Joy FM, an Accra-based independent radio station, was on July 15, 2010 charged with a criminal offence for refusing to reveal the station’s sources of information on a July 5 news item. The station had carried report to the effect that an umbrella body of local contractors, Ghana Real Estates Developers Association (GREDA), had been issued death threats to withdraw a petition that it had sent to Ghana’s parliament to oppose a controversial housing deal that the government of Ghana had entered into with a Korean company . [more]

Last week CNN fired one of its senior editors, Octavia Nasr, after she paid her respects in a tweet following the death of a controversial Lebanese Shia cleric.

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New York, July 16, 2010—Three journalists were formally charged today after refusing to reveal to Ivory Coast’s state prosecutor their sources for a corruption story based on a document leaked from the prosecutor’s office. The journalists could face up to 10 years in prison.[more]

The government is in the process of passing a law that will limit access to government information undermining transparency, accountability, and media freedom in South African. The Protection of Information Bill allows every organ of state - from government departments and parastatals to the smallest municipality - to throw a blanket of secrecy over its documents.[more]

PRESIDENT Mugabe’s omission of a proposed Freedom of Information Bill from the legislative agenda of the Third Session of the Seventh Parliament of Zimbabwe confirmed fears among Zimbabweans that government is not committed to the genuine reform of Zimbabwe’s offensive media and information laws.

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Two human rights activists – Gamal Eid of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and Ahmed Seif El Islam Hamad of the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre (HMLC) – and a blogger, Amr Gharbeia, are to be tried before a criminal court in the Cairo district of Khalifeh on 17 July on charges of insult, defamation, blackmail and “abuse of the Internet service.”[more]

New York, July 15, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the arrest of three journalists in Ivory Coast who have been detained since Tuesday, when they refused to disclose sources for an investigative report detailing the results of a government probe into corruption in the coffee and cocoa export trade, according to local journalists and news reports.[more]

MOGADISHU (Sh. M. Network) – TFG’s information minister Abdirahman Omar (Yarisow) has held press conference in the Somalia capital Mogadishu and talked more with heads of Somali media on Wednesday.[more]

On 9 July 2010, The Lusaka High Court dismissed an application by The Post Newspapers editor-in-chief Fred M’membe in which he sought President Banda to appear in court for cross examination.[more]

Guinea's military leader, Gen. Sékouba Konaté, has enshrined press freedom in the country's new constitution. He has reformed media laws to protect journalists from jail sentences and ensure the freedom to create independent newspapers, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and ARTICLE 19.[more]

REPORTS alleging that two senior government ministers, ZANU PF’s Didymus Mutasa and the MDC-T’s Co-Minister of Home Affairs, Theresa Makone, had intimidated the police in an effort to obtain the release of Mutasa’s son, Martin Mutasa, from custody, provided some spice in a week that was again dominated by the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee’s chaotic management of its constitutional outreach consultation program.[more]

President Mugabe has announced that the Media Practitioners’ Bill, which has been on the cards for more than a year following recommendations of the All Media Stakeholders Conference held in Kariba in May 2009, will be among the 23 Bills constituting the legislative agenda of the next parliamentary session. [more]

The recent unanimous decision by Parliament to allow the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, Hon. Dumelang Saleshando to come up with a Freedom of Information Bill is much welcome and genuinely applauded. MISA-Botswana has been in the fore front calling for the enactment of a law that will guarantee access to information in this country. [more]

On 13 July 2010, the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson Chris Chalwe was found with a case to answer by Lusaka Resident Magistrate David Simusamba following his assault of two Zambian journalists in 2009.[more]

On 11 July 2010, Channel Swazi, a privately-owned TV station was forced to pull a religious programme off air after Swazi authorities felt the sermon which was being preached in the programme was critical of royalty and Swazi cultural practices[more]

On 13 July 2010, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere advised the media in Zambia to be extra cautious with stories they source from what he has termed as disgruntled politicians.[more]

The Banks’ new Access to Information policy, which became effective on July 1, is ground breaking in several respects. First, it represents a paradigm shift to a ‘presumption of disclosure’ in which the great majority of Bank documents will be accessible to the public and introduces an appeal mechanism for those that aren’t.[more]

With this submission, ARTICLE 19 seeks to make a constructive contribution to the preparation process of the UPR for Rwanda. [more]

The National Press Council (CNP), the print media regulatory body in Côte d’Ivoire, on July 9, 2010 imposed a fine of three million CFA francs (aboutUS$6,000) on Regie Cyclone Company, publishers of Le Temps, a pro-government daily newspaper. [more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the kidnapping of four officials of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), following an armed attack on two NUJ vehicles yesterday.[more]

Reporters Without Borders calls on the European Union and other international donors to suspend their assistance to the Rwandan government and to stop providing financial support for the 9 August presidential election following a series of grave press freedom violations, the latest of which was a newspaper editor’s arrest last week.[more]

Reporters Without Borders wrote on 13 July to Sudanese president, Omar al Bashir, urging him to immediately lift prior censorship of the written press. Here is the text of the letter:[more]

If you’re in downtown Nairobi before the 4th of August, be sure to pop in to the Barber Q Hair Studio and get yourself a free head massage. The studio is on the 2nd Floor of El-Roi Plaza, close to the Odeon Cinema. This is just one example of the thousands of snippets of information that are at the heart of Mocality, a free-to-list, hyper-local mobile business directory in Nairobi, Kenya.[more]

One of the joys of the LSE and the Polis Summer School in particular, is seeing different political philosophies collide. Katy Kinney from Iowa is active in one of the heartlands of American democracy, a state famous for its special role in the US elections.[more]

Police in Rwanda arrested the editor of a private newspaper on Thursday in connection with a series of articles critical of the government, according to local journalists. Agnès Uwimana was taken into custody in the capital, Kigali, over allegations that her Kinyarwanda-language weekly Umurabyo had published stories “inciting the public to disobey,” “articles related to division and ethnicity,” and “rumors that can cause disturbance in the country,” Rwandan National Police spokesman Eric Kayiranga told CPJ today. [more]

Following independence, single-party rule in francophone Africa often sought to restrict the press to the role of government messenger.[more]

On 8 July 2010, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned a 7 July decision by the Sudanese security authorities to close the "Alentebaha" newspaper for an indefinite period of time. The newspaper had urged Sudanese citizens to vote in the upcoming referendum on the independence of southern Sudan and the separation between the north and south. [more]

Najib Sagna, a reporter of the Walf Grand Place, a privately-owned Dakar-based daily newspaper was in the morning of July 6, 2010 reportedly attacked by four assailants including a relative of Madam Coumba Gaye, a deputy minister of Justice and Human Rights.[more]

In a letter sent to Zambian President Rupiah Banda on Thursday, 23 IPI World Press Freedom Heroes urged the Zambian authorities to reverse, on appeal, Mr M’membe’s 4 June conviction on contempt of court charges – which led to a four-month prison sentence with hard labour.[more]

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu of South Africa has endorsed the Declaration of Table Mountain, a media industry call to African heads of state to repeal insult and criminal defamation laws and place a free press higher on the political agenda.[more]

Reports alleging that two senior government ministers, ZANU PF’s Didymus Mutasa and the MDC-T’s Co -Minister of Home Affairs, Theresa Makone, had intimidated the police in an effort to obtain the release of Mutasa’s son, Martin Mutasa, from custody, provided some spice in a week that was again dominated by the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee’s chaotic management of its constitutional outreach consultation programme. The surprise was that this shocking news appeared as the front-page lead story in The Herald where ministers are rarely – if ever – accused of such allegations.[more]

The International Press Institute today named Gambian publisher and editor Pap Saine an IPI World Press Freedom Hero in honour of his courageous work for press freedom in the face of attacks and harassment. Pap Saine is the publisher and editor of The Point, and the dean of Reuters’ correspondents in West and Central Africa. [more]

On 7 July 2010 Information Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha demanded for an apology from The Post Newspaper and Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata for allegedly perpetrating lies against President Rupiah Banda and his government.[more]

Critical voices in the East African media—whether in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, or Uganda—have been intimidated, banned, blocked, and beaten prior to elections in recent years. Somalia is so embroiled in conflict that even the concept of having elections remains a faraway dream. But in late June, the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland in northern Somalia managed to hold relatively peaceful and free elections with decent media coverage, local journalists and election observers told CPJ.[more]

Today, July 8, 2010, the ECOWAS Community Court will continue with the hearing of a case of torture brought against the Gambian authorities by a victim, Musa Saidykhan, a Gambian journalist now in exile. [more]

On 1 July 2010, Zambian President, Rupiah Banda launched a verbal attack on The Post newspaper by alleging that The Post Newspaper was an upside-down newspapers and said people should interpret whatever it published in the opposite.[more]

On 30 June 2010, United States Ambassador to Lesotho Robert Nolan, called on the government of Lesotho to give access to all stakeholders to state-controlled media.

Nolan made the call on the occasion of the celebration of the 234th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.

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Today, July 7, 2010 marks the fourth year of the arrest and detention of a Gambian journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of Banjul-based pro government, Daily Observer newspaper. [more]

African National Congress (ANC) is set to have its own newspaper which is set to go public in September 2010. The publication will be funded by the Gupta Group which is closely linked to the party president Jacob Zuma and the ANC.[more]

The Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS), a state radio broadcaster, has banned trade unions from accessing the radio station unless they have been sanctioned by the police.[more]

A new media bill that will liberalize the airwaves and insulate the state-owned media in Mauritania from governmental control was adopted by the country’s National Assembly on July 2, 2010. According to Hamdi Ould Mahjoub, the country’s Communication and Parliamentary Affairs minister, when the law comes into force it would not only liberalize the electronic media but also eliminate the monopoly of the state over public media.

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Radio France Internationale has launched its Swahili language daily radio broadcast on Monday from Dar-Es-Salam. A team of nine journalists, headed by manager David Coffey will produce news, features, sports and music magazines to be broadcast for two hours daily to RFI stations throughout the continent.[more]

Reporters Without Borders hails the enshrinement of the principle of press freedom in Guinea’s new constitution and the promulgation of two new laws by the country’s military leader, Gen. Sékouba Konaté, on 22 June, one decriminalising press offences and the other creating a new media regulatory body. The laws were published in the government gazette on 28 June.[more]

The Somali Islamist insurgent group Hizbul Islam has warned Somali media against covering celebrations of the country’s 50th anniversary today, according to news reports. [more]

A Somali correspondent for the New York Times, Mohammed Ibrahim, told IPI by phone on Thursday that he had fled the country following death threats and attempted arrest by government security forces. [more]

The fifth annual Digital Citizen’s Indaba (DCI) [www.dcindaba.com], held on July 7 at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, will draw together citizens, advocates, bloggers and activists to discuss how new media can revolutionise development work and give a voice to the unheard or silenced. This year’s theme, Africa’s underdevelopment: Digital Citizens.[more]

What is reportedly the first media summit for South Africa will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on 11 November 2010. The objectives are to discuss and debate the challenges facing today's rapidly evolving magazine landscape and obtain a comprehensive understanding of what advertising over the next decade will look like and the implications for magazines.[more]

Administrative chaos, which crippled the first week of the parliamentary constitutional select committee’s national consultation exercise, meant to gather the aspirations of Zimbabweans in the new constitution, took centre stage in all the media this week.[more]

ARTICLE 19 calls upon the Government of President Kagame to investigate all incidents of violence against activists, journalists and human rights defenders, in the lead up to Rwanda’s August elections, and ensure they are able to carry out their legitimate activities in safety.[more]

Ethiopia’s postal service should a conduct thorough and transparent investigation into the tampering of mail addressed to the country’s leading critical newspaper, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is astonished that the National Council for Communication (CNC), the media regulatory body, has ignored a joint letter it received on 8 June from local human rights and journalists’ organisations that condemned the very disturbing tone of pro-government Rema FM’s broadcasts in the tense run-up to the 28 June presidential election.[more]

Reporters Without Borders and Journalist in Danger (JED), its partner organisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are alarmed about the situation of press freedom in this country on the eve of the 50th anniversary of its independence. As many foreign leaders arrive in Kinshasa for tomorrow’s celebrations, the two organisations call on the Congolese authorities and the international community to work together to improve the climate for journalists.[more]

The International Federation of the Journalists (IFJ) today strongly condemned the bomb attack against eight journalists on Tuesday, 29th June 2010 in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia.[more]

Mobile network operator Vodacom has expressed disappointments to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) after it proposed another round of rate cut into the interconnection fee. Vodacom pleaded with the regulator to delay the second round of interconnection rate cuts, arguing should the new rate be introduced in July 2010 it would “devastate” the industry.[more]

The International Federation of the Journalists (IFJ) today strongly condemned the bomb attack against eight journalists on Tuesday, 29th June 2010, the injury of another journalist on July 1st and the arrest of two journalists in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia.[more]

Government Actions Undermine Democracy as Presidential Election Draws Near[more]

Authorities in Rwanda announced on Monday the arrest of two individuals in the murder of journalist Jean-Léonard Rugambage, who was shot late Thursday as he drove through the gate to his home in Kigali, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed skepticism about the arrests and called on authorities to disclose details of their investigation.[more]

The SOS Suport Public Broadcasting Coalition has congratulated the SABC board for reversing the appointment of Phil Molefe as SABC news head, but reiterated its call for action to be taken against board chair Ben Ngubane and CEO Solly Mokoetle for corporate governance breaches, writes Michael Mbambo for journalism.co.za.[more]

Access to Information is a big topic these days. It is for the World Bank, with its own ATI strategy kicking in this week, on July 1. It's a big topic elsewhere too: The Philippine Congress just killed a Freedom of Information Bill, the Parliament in Liberia is taking up it's review of a Freedom of Information Act after a two year hiatus, and the New York Times reports on the positive effects that India's Right to Information Law has on the poorest castes.[more]

On 17-18 June, over 25 experts and 150 stakeholders from key national reform agencies, the United Nations, and civil society organisations including ARTICLE 19 debated the values and limits of freedom of expression and regulations against harmful speech in Nairobi, Kenya.[more]

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has on 28 June 2010 issued an interim Request For Proposal (RTF) book calling for local programming proposals in specific television content genres. It said “this is part of the process towards normalising content commissioning and procurement procedures begun under the current SABC Board”.

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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today expressed deep concern over the arrest on Saturday, 26th June ,2010 of Hadis Mohemed Hadis, editor of the online paper Baadiyenews.com, an independent website published in Somaliland. Hadis is charged with “serious crimes”.[more]

Talk Radio 702, which started simply as 'Channel 702 - The Rainbow of Sound' at the height of apartheid era in June 1980, has grown and matured over the years to become a much bigger 'fearless' platform of news and debate, and is today, Monday, 28 June 2010, celebrating its 30th birthday. And the station is still in touch, in tune and independent - and ready to deliver when it matters the most.

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On 16 June 2010, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services instructed Sky FM Radio to put in writing its commitment that it would desist from running statements that had the potential to incite the public to engage in acts that could threaten the peace and security of the nation and submit it to the Ministry in 48 hours failure to which its license would be revoked.[more]

Gweru based Nkabazwe Community Radio Initiative was on 24 June 2010 denied police clearance to hold a road show for the third time in a space of less than two months because it is not licensed to broadcast. [more]

Washington, DC — Through his undercover investigations, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has exposed human trafficking rings, corruption in Ghana's customs offices and child prostitution. U.S. President Barack Obama mentioned Anas and his work in a speech to Ghana's parliament last year. Most recently, Anas was in Washington, DC, to receive his 2010 Global Health Council Excellence in Journalism Award for his undercover work in exposing the mistreatment of mental health patients in Ghanaian hospitals. Saratu Abiola and Bunmi Oloruntoba caught up with the undercover reporter to talk about his passion, the importance of journalism and his hopes for Africa and his native country, Ghana. [more]

An unidentified gunman shot dead a journalist for a banned Rwandan newspaper on Thursday, according to media reports.[more]

It is well known that Africa faces many challenges in its quest for a better life for its citizens as spelled out by the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). One of the biggest hurdles in Africa’s road to development, albeit not recognised by many, is the continent’s tarnished image that was a direct result of many factors; some are internal while others are external. [more]

The legal framework regulating hate speech in Kenya falls short of international human rights standards and raises serious concerns regarding the protection of the right to freedom of expression. [more]

The launch of the long-awaited constitutional outreach consultation exercise after months of bickering among the coalition parties was the highlight of the week in all the media.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is disturbed to learn that Alphonse Afakandro of Mandomba an’i Melaky, a radio station based in the west-coast town of Maintirano, is being prosecuted on charges of defamation, insult and dissemination of false information as a result of complaint by the local gendarmerie over a report about illegal sea-turtle fishing.[more]

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been poised for months to award a life sciences prize named after and funded by President Teodoro Obiang, the abusive ruler of Equatorial Guinea. On 15 June, UNESCO delayed awarding the controversial prize, but rights groups such as Human Rights Watch say that's not enough. Meanwhile, opposition to the prize has grown more vociferous - including statements from journalists worldwide who have been repressed by their own governments. [more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned threats and violence against journalists during the world cup which is currently taking place. IFJ calls on the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) to ensure the safety of the journalists accredited to cover the tournament that is being held for the first time on the African continent. [more]

The Angolan government should drop politically motivated criminal charges against three prominent rights advocates who go on trial on June 23, 2010, in Cabinda, Angola's oil-rich province, Human Rights Watch said today. [more]

The Benin’s media regulatory body, the High Authority for Broadcasting and Communication (HAAC), on June 16, 2010 banned the media from publishing or broadcasting what it described as “premature” political campaign materials on the country’s 2011 General Elections.[more]

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Ronnie Shikapwasha has cautioned the Media Liaison Committee (MLC) to exercise sincerity when dealing with media issues.[more]

Gambian journalist Abdoulie John has received threats from unnamed callers over the past few weeks, he told IPI in a phone interview today. [more]

The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is appealing to the Ministry of Information and Civic Education to review its decision that prevents private radio and television stations from covering Very Very Important Persons (VVIP) functions live. [more]

A free media is a critical component in the creation and maintenance of a healthy and vibrant democracy. It plays a key monitoring, evaluation and watchdog role over both private and public institutions.[more]

The trial of Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and eight councillors on allegations of criminally defaming businessman Philip Chiyangwa in which five journalists will appear as witnesses, was on 22 June 2010 moved to 23 September 2010 by Harare magistrate Olivia Mariga. [more]

Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) party leader Simba Makoni has attacked the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) for not airing an interview that was recorded in 2009 with Super Mandiwanzira under the state-controlled broadcaster’s Talking Business programme.[more]

The transitional government of Niger on June 3, 2010 issued a new media decree, that the country’s media and civil society groups say would restrict the flow of information and undermine the work of foreign media outlets and their journalists. [more]

The management of privately-owned North Star, a radio station in Tamale, capital of the Northern region of Ghana on June 9, 2010 suspended indefinitely members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) from participating in the station’s programmes.[more]

The 2010 Digital Citizen's Indaba (DCI), a project of the Highway Africa Conference, will be held on 7 July 2010 at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. This year's theme, 'Africa's Underdevelopment: Digital citizens talk back', plans to explore citizen media and the exploitation of natural resources, disasters, climate change and mega events.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is deeply disturbed by the conduct of the trial of four senior members of the opposition daily Rai Al Shaab – editor Ashraf Abdelaziz, deputy editor Abuzur Al Amin, political editor Altahir Ibrahim and news editor Ramadan Mahgoub – on charges of terrorism and spying.[more]

The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Pansy Tlakula, has appealed to Zambia’s president to repeal a law used to convict and imprison Fred M’membe, the editor-in-chief of The Post.[more]

Journalists and Scientist will discuss at the 2010 Global Media Forum, "Covering Climate Change in West Africa" and find ways of collaborating to educate the people to appreciate the need to stem the looming danger.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the death of Khaled Mohammed Said, a 28-year-old human rights activist who is widely alleged to have been beaten to death by police in Alexandria on 6 June, and calls for an independent and transparent enquiry.[more]

Angola’s independent press has played an important role in holding the country’s leadership to account, writes Sylvia Croese, but there are increasing fears that critical voices will be crowded out, after a group with suspected links to the government bought out three private newspapers. Angola’s media landscape is largely dominated by the state, which owns two national television stations, the national radio broadcaster, the daily national newspaper and the national press agency.[more]

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the adoption by the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday of a bill that reinforces an existing arsenal of legislation used to silence critical journalists. President Ben Ali is expected to sign the bill after its anticipated approval by the Chamber of Councilors. The change is unconstitutional since it violates freedom of expression as guaranteed by Tunisian constitution, according to CPJ research.[more]

For the better part of the last 20 years, Tedros Menghistu has been a refugee, forced to flee his Red Sea homeland of Eritrea not once, but twice—first as a young man displaced by war in the early 1990s, and then as a professional journalist escaping political censorship and military conscription a decade later.[more]

At least 85 journalists fled their home countries in the past year in the face of attacks, threats, and possible imprisonment. High exile rates are seen in Iran and in the East African nations of Somalia and Ethiopia.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is very concerned about growing threats to the safety of journalists in Burundi in the run-up to the 28 June presidential election. Several incidents directly affecting Burundian journalists and media have been reported in the past few weeks.[more]

Lewis Medjo, editor of the weekly La Détente Libre, who was released from prison on 26 May 2010, has talked to Reporters Without Borders about his hopes of getting back to work.[more]

The crime of ‘democricide’ is being committed in Ethiopia both by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and a hoard of accessories who cheat the Ethiopian people out of fair elections, free press and aid, writes Alemayehu G. Mariam. Those complicit in this crime include the political bureaucracy that pumps out shining reports on ‘development’ and the donors themselves, who continue to prop up regimes like Zenawi’s and stifle democracy in the name of stability.[more]

Although there was a significant increase in the media’s coverage of the constitutional reform programme compared to last week as the nation awaited the launch of the Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee’s outreach exercise (by 58% in terms of the number of stories), the quality of the coverage still raised more questions than answers. [more]

A station manager who was held for 32 days in Matadi's central prison, in Bas Congo province, southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, was released on 12 June 2010, two days after being acquitted by a Matadi court on charges of "threatening state security", reports JED. [more]

Immediately after his newspaper was suspended for criticising President Paul Kagame, a defiant Rwandan editor launched an online news website that was just as critical of the government. In the lead up to presidential elections in August, the site was recently blocked, report the Media Institute, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). [more]

On Friday evening, after receiving an unexpected royal pardon, Driss Chahtan, the editor of the independent weekly Al-Michaal, was released from Oukacha Prison in Casablanca. However, his release is one of the few positive developments amid many alarming cases of worsening press conditions in Morocco.[more]

Irina Bokova, UNESCO’s director-general, delivered a firm message on Tuesday to representatives from UNESCO’s 58-member executive board assembled at the organization’s Paris headquarters: Bestowing the Obiang International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences, named for and financed by one of the most repressive leaders in Arica, would do grave damage to the organization.[more]

Dissapointingly, the SABC continues its corruption freefall under President Jacob Zuma and Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda. After a R1,5bn bail-out, more than R3m has already been spent on soccer tickets and almost R1m on a “documentary” about Zuma. One can only guess that this “doccie” will be given saturation airtime in the run-up to next year’s municipal elections. Millions more have been corruptly spent or wasted on hiring unnecessary 2010 studio space outside Auckland Park.[more]

On 14 June 2010, the main privately-owned radio station in the central city of Agadez, Sahara FM, was back on the air for the first time since it was shut down in 2008. It was able to resume broadcasting after obtaining a permit from the National Institute for Communication (ONC), the media's new regulatory authority.[more]

Last week in steamy, rain-soaked Monrovia, anticipation for the World Cup aside, I could already sense the buzz building around presidential elections scheduled for October of 2011. In the coming contest—only the second presidential election since the end of the civil war—Liberians will decide whether to reelect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female head of state, for a second term. Just as the daily downpours fill the potholes that mar almost every road in Liberia, giving the illusion of a smooth passable surface, Liberia’s airwaves and newspapers will soon be filled with the political propaganda of the candidates.[more]

Malawian journalists risk arrest for disclosing the name, address or school of a child involved in any proceedings in the Child Justice Court.A new bill on Child Care, Protection and Justice expected to be tabled in Parliament in three weeks time proposes that journalists who identify a child involved in proceedings of the Child Justice Court will be jailed for six months or in default pay up to K20, 000 (US$ 133), while media houses that publish the details risks a K100, 000 (US$666) fine.[more]

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a suspended prison sentence handed to a journalist this week over an article raising questions about the unsolved murder of a government official. [more]

Plain-clothed policemen in Senegal on the night of 5 June 2010 stormed the printing house of "Le Populaire", a Dakar-based independent daily newspaper, and halted work on the next issue of the newspaper. [more]

Reporters Without Borders regrets the Cameroonian government’s foot-dragging in the investigation into journalist “Bibi” Ngota Ngota’s death in Yaoundé’s Kodengui prison on 22 April. See previous release.[more]

ARTICLE 19 and the Cairo Institute of Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) submitted a joint oral statement at the UN Human Rights Council’s 14th session welcoming the annual report of he Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Mr Frank La Rue.[more]

Media, Diversity and Change: Taking Stock

Date: 13-15 October 2010, Johannesburg, South Africa[more]

Who is asking the hard questions? When Zimbabwe started down the path of creating a new constitution, the nation might have hoped for a momentous discussion of this sacred contract between the government and the governed.

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On 7 June 2010, former State House Press Aide Richard Sakala called for a media conference for the media to come up with a code of ethics which could be submitted to Parliament to be enacted into law.[more]

ARTICLE 19 submitted an oral statement at the Panel Discussion on Journalists in Armed Conflict at the UN Human Rights Council’s 14th session.[more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC) to take practical, pragmatic and international urgent action to protect journalists armed conflict areas. [more]

The publishers of US-based www.thegambiaecho.com newspaper on June 4, 2010 filed a complaint to the US Government regarding the blocking of its IP address by the Gambian authorities , which makes it impossible for its readers within the country to access the news site. [more]

Rockson Asmah, a senior photographer of the state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper was on June 3, 2010 assaulted at the premises of the Accra District Juvenile Court by a 39 year-old business woman, Celestine Owusu.[more]

Musa Saidykhan, a former editor-in-chief of the banned Banjul-based The Independent newspaper on June 3, 2010 told the ECOWAS Community Court that his assailants, who tortured him, were members of President Yahya Jammeh’s security guards.[more]

The editor of the Sudanese daily Ajras al-Huriya yesterday decided to suspend publication of the newspaper for one week in protest against the imposition of official censorship.[more]

Reporters Without Borders notes the National Assembly’s decision on 2 June to reject a print media bill that had been presented by the government. The bill was to have replaced Decree No. 5, which the president issued on 20 February 2008, the day after the launch of a rebel offensive on the capital, N’Djamena.[more]

On January 8, while Angola was hosting the African Cup of Nations, the country made worldwide headlines after a deadly attack on the Togolese national soccer team, which left a coach and a journalist dead. With international attention turning to the story, a shroud of state censorship and self-censorship by the Angolan media obscured the factual circumstances of the attack and its aftermath. [more]

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo should urgently open a credible and transparent investigation with United Nations assistance into the death of the prominent human rights defender, Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, Human Rights Watch said today.[more]

Jon Snow (C4), Peter Horrocks (BBC), Douglas Alexander MP, Danny Finkelstein (Times), and Janine Gibson (Guardian) are all Networked Journalists. They will be among the dozens of great speakers at the free Polis/BBC Value of Networked Journalism conference on Friday June 11th at the LSE. I launch my report on on the state of Networked Journalism there – it includes case studies at the BBC, Guardian, Sky, Times, Telegraph, Trinity Mirror, hyperlocal and Mumsnet.[more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on Sudanese authorities to release up to a dozen journalists who have been held for over two weeks in two separate incidents in the North and South of the country.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the Mauritian government’s discriminatory behaviour towards La Sentinelle, the country’s leading media group.[more]

As the Telecommunications Fellow at the Shuttleworth Foundation, Steve Song is passionate about exploring ways of driving down the cost of communications infrastructure in Africa, and the positive impact it would have on entrepreneurship on the continent.[more]

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Zambian President Rupiah Bwezani Banda and his administration to halt the ongoing harassment of the nation’s leading independent newspaper The Post and its award-winning editor Fred M’membe.[more]

Three managing editors of privately-owned newspapers in Lome, the capital of Togo will on June 9, 2010 reappear before a Magistrate Court over criminal charges relating to “false publication” and “criminal defamation”.[more]

La Fédération Internationale des Journalistes (FIJ) et ARTCLE 19 ont appelé aujourd’hui à un rétablissement de la liberté d’expression, suite aux violations répétées de la liberté de la presse, notamment la fermeture de Radio Fahazavana et l’arrestation de 10 journalistes et techniciens de cette même chaîne depuis le 20 mai dernier. [more]

Conspiracy theories targeting Zimbabwe’s perceived Western detractors intensified in the government media this week in the wake of a visit by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme monitor Abbey Chikane and renewed international criticism of President Mugabe.

[more]

Last week's Ethiopian presidential election result was no surprise, with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's governing party winning nearly every seat.[more]

Independent newspapers are making a comeback in Zimbabwe after being silenced for close to seven years.[more]

Political violence has intensified in Burundi with members of political groups settling scores just as a series of elections have begun to take place in the country, says Human Rights Watch in its latest report.[more]

On 3 June 2010, The Post newspapers and its editor in chief, Fred M’membe were found guilty of one count of contempt of court, a charge arising from an opinion article authored by United States of America-based Zambian Law Professor,  Muna Ndulo and published by the newspaper on  27 August 2009. However, presiding Magistrate Simausamba  reserved sentence to 4 June 2010.

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Reporters Without Borders is disturbed to learn that 10 Radio Fahazavana employees, including six journalists, were placed in pre-trial detention in a prison in the capital on 27 May on charges of threatening state security and inciting revolt [more]

Some musicians in Cote d’Ivoire are unhappy with the country’s national television station, Radio Television Ivoirienne (RTI) saying that the station has refused to broadcast their music.[more]

Journalists are having to get used to working in an "attention economy", where the proliferation of new media platforms has created an increasingly bitter struggle for smaller and smaller slices of audiences' attention. Having spent around eight months working in the office of the Reuters editor for ethics, innovation and standards, Wits and Columbia graduate Jackie Bischof considers the place of ethics in the brave new world of journalism.[more]

A Canadian band had a line in a song, "all touch, and all touch and no contact" which echoes the way that organizations try to reach people with information about development and governance.[more]

Barring any further adjournments, Musa Saidykhan, a Gambian journalist and his medical doctor will on June 2, 2010 physically give evidence to the ECOWAS Community Court hearing his complaint of “torture” at the hands of Gambian state security agents, while in illegal detention in 2006.[more]

The traditional leader of Bakgatla tribe Kgosi-Kgolo Kgafela has sued several media houses accusing them of contempt of court in the same legal suit in which he seeks the court to punish the Family of God (FOG) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana (EFB).

[more]

Concern is mounting for eight radio journalists and technicians detained in Madagascar last week.

The Human Rights Court in Accra, capital of Ghana will on June 16, 2010 commence hearing of a suit filed by a pro-opposition pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), asking it to restrain the Ghanaian authorities from installing an Intelligence Signal Management System (ISMS), a monitoring device, that they alleged will stifle  the right to free expression. [more]

The Egyptian government's recent two-year renewal of the decades-old emergency law - with only minor changes - has stoked the creation of a "national committee to build a future without emergency," reports the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR).  [more]

Reporters Without Borders is very pleased to learn that the Zimbabwe Media Council (ZMC) announced yesterday that it has decided to grant licences to three privately-owned dailies, allowing them to resume publishing.“The decision to grant licences to these three newspapers is a major advance for a country that has been without independent daily newspapers for more than six years,” Reporters Without Borders said.[more]

Reporters Without Borders today strongly condemned a new six-month ban slapped on the newspaper Ezombolo by the National Communications Council (CNC) on 21 May for “persistently insulting the head of state”, Ali Bongo. The CNC was responding to an article carried in the newspaper, headlined, “Ali does nothing but travel while the country is sinking”. The journalist referred to the exorbitant cost to Gabon of the president’s trips, while at the same time mocking his physical appearance.[more]

A total of 52 African states have been invited to the two-day Africa - France summit that is due to begin on 31 May in the French city of Nice. Representatives of the European Union, International Organisation of the Francophonie, Food and Agriculture Organisation, African Union Commission and World Bank are also due to attend the summit, the 25th of its kind.[more]

On June 11th Polis is holding a major conference on The Value of networked journalism at which we will publish a new research report on the state of networked journalism in the UK.[more]

Reporters Without Borders today condemned as “disgraceful” the mistreatment in prison of four journalists from the banned daily Rai al-Shaab. The paper’s deputy editor, Abuzar al Amin, who was arrested on 18 May and is still in detention, has told his lawyer that he was tortured in prison. He added that three of his colleagues, Nagi Dahab, Ashraf Abdelaziz and Abu Baker Al-Sammani, all held on state security premises, also showed marks of torture.[more]

Ethiopian Government Must Relinquish ‘Desire to Control Flow of Information’, Says IPI. Ethiopia’s electoral board said on Tuesday that the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and allied parties had won a Sunday election by a landslide. European Union chief election observer Thijs Berman praised the polling for being peaceful and orderly, but noted that there was an “uneven playing field,” according to news reports. The run-up to the vote, and the voting process itself, were characterised by the absence of a free, independent media.[more]

Two journalists of privately-owned Abidjan-based L’Expression newspaper were on May 25, 2010 grilled by the Ivoirian police for a long period over a February 8 article that the newspaper  carried  on alleged casualties of a para-military group’s clamp down on protesters in demonstrations in early February. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the two, Diarrassouba Youssouf and Dembele Al Seni, publisher and reporter respectively of the newspaper, were subjected to questioning for over ten hours.  [more]

A group of 18 national, regional and international organizations working on Burundi today expressed concern that space for independent human rights reporting may be diminishing following the Burundian government’s decision to expel the Human Rights Watch (HRW) Burundi researcher from the country.  The organizations call on the Burundian authorities to reverse their decision and ensure that the rights to freedom of expression are respected.[more]

Ed Butler, a BBC World Service producer, was on May 24, 2010 denied access to the High Court in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, by police officers deployed at the court premises. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s sources reported that Butler, who is on a private visit in the Gambia had gone to the High Court to witness an ongoing high profile “treason” trial involving eight persons including, a former military chief.  [more]

Alexander Adu Gyamfi, a sympathizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) was on May 24, 2010 arrested by the police in Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city, for describing the country’s President as a “chimpanzee” during a radio discussion programme.  Gyamfi, who is popularly known as “High Priest” was a panelist on the morning show on the Kumasi-based Fox FM, in which his co-panelist from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) raised concerns about the negative propaganda that he claimed were being waged against Nana Akufo-Addo, a contender for the NPP presidential candidature in party’s primaries slated for August 2010, and that this negative campaign in the NPP would help the fortunes of the NDC in the 2012 general elections. [more]

Two angry men in Guinea Bissau, on May 15, 2010, stormed the premises of privately-owned daily newspaper Diario de Bissau amidst death threats and attacked Joao De Barros, the newspaper’s editor, and destroyed its equipment.[more]

Mesfin Negash is the Managing Editor of Addis Neger newspaper, a popular independent weekly founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in October 2007. Publication of the paper ceased in December 2009 after editors and managers there received a credible warning that they were to be targeted under anti-terrorism legislation. They subsequently fled the country. Addis Neger has since started publishing news and commentary online, and is now operated from outside Ethiopia. Addis Neger can be found at www.addisnegeronline.com .[more]

Thirty IFEX members joined the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) last week in calling for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to refuse US$3 million donated by Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang - one of Africa's worst violators of press freedom - to set up an international prize in life sciences [more]

It was surprising to see Angola’s media regulator on Thursday accusing the nation’s only state-run newspaper of running a story that distorted a speech by the leader of the main opposition party to make him look favourable towards the government.[more]

MMPZ welcomes news this week that the Zimbabwe Media Commission has finally moved to register six new independent newspapers, among them four dailies, which will bring to an end the seven-year state-controlled Zimpapers’ monopoly of the daily print media market.

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There are no magic wands in the digital transition. Everything has to be built slowly and surely, as with legacy media. And failure is as likely, maybe even more likely, than in the analog world. But you have to keep trying because cell phones, the first true mass digital channel in Africa, are getting faster and smarter; if you don't exploit the power of the new channel, you're toast because others will and are. [more]

One of the functions of international reporting is supposed to be that journalists can warn the world of impending disasters. The idea is that intrepid hacks can spot looming conflicts or humanitarian catastrophes and help persuade governments or other agencies to intervene. In practice, this ain’t necessarily so. By it’s nature, news journalism tends to focus on what has happened, not what is coming up. And there is no doubt that pressures on resources make it harder for mainstream media to find time for that kind of analytical, predictive journalism.[more]

Citizen participation, access to information and action usher in much needed reforms. The process to engage citizens is easy to describe but hard to achieve. So how do you grab and keep the attention of community stakeholders and keep them informed? This week’s answer is “Participedia.”[more]

The President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Jim Boumelha, told delegates at the World Congress in Cadiz that the IFJ represents a powerful voice for journalists and has grown into a global organisation fit for journalism in the modern world. He made the remarks during his presidential address at the opening ceremony of the IFJ World Congress in Cadiz.[more]

ARTICLE 19 condemns the appalling sentence imposed by a Malawian court on a gay couple, Steven Monjenza and Towonge Chimbalanga. Both have been found guilty of "gross indecency" and "unnatural acts" and condemned to 14 years hard labor.[more]

The Spanish Deputy Prime Minister, Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, will tomorrow address the conference on future of journalism organised by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on 25 May in Cadiz before the opening of its world congress in the Spanish seaside city.[more]

You have to be totally dismayed at the apparent collapse – again - of SABC governance. The hopes that this new board represented a fresh broom to sweep the rot out of the Auckland Park headquarters and re-establish a notion of independent, public service broadcasting, are rapidly fading.[more]

Today, the 19th anniversary of Eritrea’s independence, Reporters Without Borders issues a reminder that around 30 journalists are imprisoned in this Horn of Africa country and launches a new appeal for their release.[more]

Reporters Without Borders today condemned death threats sent by text to Salomao Moyana, editor of the weekly Magazine Independente, published in the capital, Maputo[more]

"Diário de Bissau" owner and publisher João de Barros, a pioneer of independent journalism in Bissau, was attacked inside the newspaper's premises on 15 May by a businessman he believes to be linked to drug traffickers. Before leaving, the businessman and his driver smashed all the computers in the newsroom. [more]

Reporters Without Borders is concerned that prior censorship could be restored in Sudan after security forces raided several newspapers in Khartoum, demanded to see the articles in preparation and prevented two newspapers from publishing several reports and editorials.[more]

Zapiro, South Africa's premier cartoonist, known for his controversial style in picking on politicians and commenting on social inequalities, has come into the limelight in South Africa for jumping on the “Draw Muhammad Day” bandwagon. “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” is a drawing event inspired by a comment by Seattle cartoonist, Molly Norris in a radio interview about Comedy Central's decision to censor a South Park episode that had depictions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).[more]

ARTICLE 19 condemns the recent action by the government of Sudan to impose press censorship on newspapers. The decision has resulted in many newspapers being off the streets and constitutes a major blow to press freedom, freedom of expression and democracy.[more]

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is calling on Jermaine Jackson, an American singer, leader of the renowned Jackson Five and senior brother of the late revered Michael Jackson, to call off his intended trip to the Gambia to perform on the occasion of President Yahya Jammeh’s birthday.[more]

On 20 May 2010 prison officials barred journalists from accessing the prison cell in which a political activist, Sipho Jele, is said to have hanged himself recently. Jele, a member of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), was arrested on 1 May 2010 for wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt during a Workers Day commemoration in Manzini, Swaziland’s second biggest city. He died in detention two days later from what police and prison authorities claim was suicide.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is concerned that prior censorship could be restored in Sudan after security forces raided several newspapers yesterday in Khartoum, demanded to see the articles in preparation and prevented two newspapers from publishing several reports and editorials.[more]

Dispute exposes ‘political’ structure of ZMC. News of disagreements within the new Zimbabwe Media Commission over the issue of resource persons for a “workshop” organized to facilitate the registration of new media operators exposes the politically compromised nature of an organization that is supposed to be free of political influence and bodes ill for the coalition government’s media reform agenda.[more]

Today I want to push back a little (just a little) against the conventional wisdom that mobiles are the only communications infrastructure future for Africa. There is an implicit understanding in ICT4D work in Africa that mobiles are the future and fixed lines are an archaic hangover from an inefficient, monopolistic, state-run, colonial past. Perhaps I exaggerate for the sake of effect but it is hard to argue with when development agencies are racing to jump on the “mobile for development” train.[more]

Press freedom is still in danger in Africa despite 20 years of democratisation. Independent journalism continues to be a perilous profession on the continent, both in the peaceful arena as well as in conflict zones. [more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the regional organization of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in Africa, launched today the report of its solidarity mission to the Cameroon on the attacks on journalists and the press freedom situation, which took place from 3rd to 6th May.[more]

The website of privately-owned Monrovia–based New Democrat newspaper was on May 17, 2010, hacked into for the second time by unknown hackers.[more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the regional organization of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in Africa, launched today the report of its solidarity mission to the Cameroon on the attacks on journalists and the press freedom situation, which took place from 3rd to 6th May. [more]

Reporters Without Borders said today (17.05.10) it was deeply shocked by a vicious attack against staff at radio Fréquence Plus and by the vandalising of the studio by soldiers who arrived to arrest an opposition leader while he was taking part in a live broadcast. [more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today expressed its concerns over the increase in press freedom violations in Sudan since the recent elections after the arrest of four journalists and the closure of Rai-Alshab daily newspaper. Taban Bonifacio, online journalist for the Sudanvote.com website was arrested in South Sudan on 23 April while three more journalists of Rai-Alshab newspaper were detained on Sunday 16 May 2010.[more]

The state Botswana Television crew was banned to cover part of the opposition Botswana National Front Youth League (BNFYL) congress on 16 May 2010. According to media reports, the BTV crew were met by angry BNFYL members who blocked the hall entrance, making it difficult for the Government media practitioners to do their work.[more]

Journalists' leaders and civil society organisations from across Africa called attention to the dire situation of free expression in many countries last week at the Forum for Non-governmental Organisations (NGO Forum) held on the occasion of 47th Session of African Commission of Human and People's Rights in Banjul, Gambia. [more]

To the Hon. Minister of Communications: Press freedom is one of the important pillars of democratic societies. Directly connected to the right to information and freedom of expression, it emerges in the present context as one of the great challenges of our times. Therefore OMUNGA recognizes the commitment and responsibility of the journalists of our country. However, we followed with great concern the extracts from the declaration of Hon. Minister, broadcast by the Public Television of Angola (TPA) during their news service on May 3, 2010.[more]

An executive member of the newly registered Botswana Movement for Democracy (BHD) party, Botsalo Ntuane has pledged his party’s full support to MISA-Botswana in the fight to repeal the Media Practitioners Act (MPA) and the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). [more]

ARTICLE 19 is gravely concerned by the continued arrests, detentions and intimidations of media practitioners, human rights defenders and legal practitioners in Tunisia. Since 2005, prior to the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunisia, ARTICLE 19 joined other members of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) to form the 20-member Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG).

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The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), as the FIFA World Cup's official broadcaster, announced its broadcasting plans for the tournament on 12 May 2010. Peter Kwele, 2010 Projects General Manager, said the SABC is confident that it will deliver the World Cup as it has never been done before.[more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today accused Ethiopian politicians of resorting to threats and intimidation against many Ethiopian journalists in lead up to forthcoming next general elections envisaged for 23 May 2010.[more]

The Zimbabwe NGO Human Rights Forum on 14 May 2010, raised concern over the continued human rights violations a year into the formation of the country’s inclusive government.

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The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) last week allegedly postponed to end of May 2010 a crucial workshop to expedite the licensing of new newspapers owing to financial problems and reports on allegations of disagreements among commissioners on resource persons to the workshop. [more]

Golden Maunganidze the editor of The Masvingo Mirror was on 10 May 2010 summoned to Harare Central Police Station where he was interrogated for six hours following publication of a story that allegedly criminally defames Walter Mzembi, the Minister of Tourism.

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Mohamed Fofana, an intern at the Conakry-based general information weekly, L’Indépendant newspaper, was on May 12, 2010, picked up and detained at the PM3, a military prison facility notorious for acts of barbarism, on the orders of Madam Sanagaré, director general of Soguitrans (Guinea National Transport Company).[more]

Diarra Youssouf, also known as Gnaore David, a reporter of the Gagnoa-based pro-opposition L’Expression daily newspaper in Cote d’Ivoire, was on May 7, 2010, summoned to the Police station for questioning by the Regional Police Commander for allegedly relaying information to France 24 television station and other Ivorian media.[more]

The Speaker of the Gambian National Assembly, Elizabeth Reiner, on May 10, 2010, prevented the independent media from covering procedures of the Gambian Parliament. [more]

As World Press Freedom Day was being celebrated on 3 May, Eritrea continued to be the world’s worst country for journalists with around 30 currently held incommunicado in the most inhumane conditions and more arrests still being made, such as that of Said Abdulhai, one of the country’s most famous journalists, in the last week of March.[more]

Media reform remains tangled in bureaucracy[more]

Latest Media developments in Namibia, South Africa and Botswana[more]

A dispute has arisen over whether MultiChoice met an Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) deadline for the hotly contested digital mobile TV service license, with two applicants saying it handed in its application late.[more]

(JED/IFEX) - Kinshasa, 7 May 2010 - JED denounces the arrest and detention since 3 May 2010 of a community radio manager from a station broadcasting in Moanda. Etienne Maluka was arrested by intelligence officers in Matadi, capital of Lower Congo province. JED calls for the immediate release of Maluka, who is being held for broadcasting a Portuguese-language song of a Cabindan independence group, on the grounds that it criticises the Angolan president and praises the merits of their leader, Nzita Henriques Tiago.[more]

ARTICLE 19 welcomes the Proposed Constitution of Kenya which guarantees and safeguards human rights in general and freedom of expression, freedom of the media and the Right to Information in particular.[more]

Harare magistrate Olivia Mariga on 6 May 2010 postponed to 26 May 2010 the case in which five journalists are state witnesses in the trial of Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and eight councillors on allegations of criminally defaming businessman Philip Chiyangwa.[more]

Among the various roles news media play in governance, that of gatekeeper is one of the more problematic. According to Pippa Norris and Sina Odugbemi in Public Sentinel, “as gatekeepers, the news media have a responsibility to reflect and incorporate the plurality of viewpoints and political persuasions in reporting, to maximize the diversity of perspectives and arguments heard in rational public deliberations, and to enrich the public sphere.”[more]

Patrice Yao, managing editor of Le Nouveau Réveil, a pro-opposition daily newspaper based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and other officials of the media group, on May 5, 2010, received threatening SMS messages and telephone calls warning them to be careful.[more]

ARTICLE 19, the West African Journalists Association and other partners welcome the ECOWAS Commission’s initiative to develop a regional Protocol on the Right to Information, and to involve civil society and media associations in its drafting.[more]

The Zambian Government says self regulation of the media in Zambia did not work well and has since recommended statutory regulation for the industry like was the practice for other professions that include medicine and law.[more]

On 7 May 2010, three Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) chapel chairpersons from the government owned Times of Zambia were suspended by the newspapers’ management for allegedly holding an illegal meeting at the workplace and inciting a sit-in by unionized workers[more]

Yesterday in Santiago, Chile, Google and the group Global Voices recognized three groups from around the world who are fighting for free expression online from Africa to Asia with the first "Breaking Borders" awards. These awards, supported by Thomson Reuters, are meant to honor those who are using the Internet to give voice to those who are silenced, make the activities of governments more transparent, and standing up for the rights of dissidents.[more]

Highway Africa has set up its own social networking platform, The Network, on the Highway Africa website. The platform, created for journalists and media professionals, aims to connect delegates with other like-minded individuals. Registered members of The Network can share stories, ideas and discuss the state of the media in general, and more specifically media in African countries.[more]

Reporters Without Borders said today it was deeply shocked by the death in unexplained circumstances of cameraman Jerry Usanga of Channels Television, whose body was found on the roadside by passers-by, on 4 May 2010.[more]

In many homes, children are not allowed to watch news because their parents believe that newscasts on TV might be too traumatic or violent. So how can children find out about national and world affairs? In Burma, Zambia, Surinam, South Africa, Peru, Indonesia, the Dutch Caribbean and Mozambique, children now have the opportunity to watch TV news magazines that are specifically geared towards them, also giving them a space to voice their opinions and find out about current events.[more]

Until Twitter came along and blew the lid off news coverage of the Iranian elections last year, many of us were scratching our heads wondering just how social media could help journalism to be more interesting. Sure, Facebook helped you market a story to your buddies and you could pick up a story or two on Twitter but what else was there? Then the Iranians, armed with cellphones, beat the pants off the international news organisations covering the June protests in Tehran and we all sat up and took notice. In South Africa, social media also steals the spotlight from traditional media from time to time. Here are my favourite examples:[more]

L’état de la liberté de la presse sur le continent[more]

The ECOWAS Commission has assured the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) of its commitment to continue their collaboration in furthering the interest of the profession as a mechanism for improving media practice in the region and using the media to realize its 2020 vision for a citizen-based organisation.[more]

The unwarranted prominence of recent publicity in the government-controlled media reporting on alleged tension between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his party’s Secretary-General, Finance Minister Tendai Biti, exposes the skewed news values these media hold.[more]

On 3 May 2010, an opposition political party, the Patriotic Front threatened to sue Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) if it failed to meet its demand for the national broadcaster to provide fair and equal coverage to it and other political parties that are registered in the country.[more]

The Mozambican government, through its Information Office (GABINFO) launched in Maputo on 5 May 2010, a public debate on the new Broadcasting Law to be introduced in the country.[more]

On 5 May 2010, the Lesotho Times and Sunday Express Group Political Editor, Bongiwe Zihlangu was verbally attacked by members of the Lesotho National Assembly, accusing her of “spreading false information about gratuities” of Members of Parliament (MP) in the Sunday Express of 2 May 2010.[more]

Reporters Without Borders wrote yesterday to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi voicing concern about a deterioration in the climate for journalists in recent weeks and calling on him to consult with his country’s journalists in order to find ways to amend the code of conduct governing election reporting that was adopted in March.[more]

New York, May 5, 2010—Three gunmen shot dead veteran broadcast journalist Sheik Nur Mohamed Abkey on Tuesday evening as he was returning home from work at the state-run Radio Mogadishu, local journalists told CPJ. Gunmen abducted Abkey, left, near his residence in Wardhigley, southern Mogadishu, and shot him repeatedly in the head. Local journalists said they suspect Abkey was tortured after finding his body dumped in an alleyway in Wardhigley.[more]

May 3, 2010: Today is World Press Freedom Day, the day that was set aside by the United Nations to offer an opportunity for nations and states to reflect on the role the media plays in social and economic development and building of societies. It also offers an opportunity for soul-searching and brainstorming on progress and challenges faced by journalists in the course of their work.[more]

On 3 May 2010 Zimbabweans join the rest of the world in commemorating World Press Freedom Day set by the United Nations to raise awareness on the importance of media freedom and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.[more]

Washington — Africa’s independent media is becoming a driving force for greater political and economic openness, with mobile phones potentially playing an important role in the process, says Reed Kramer, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Africa News Service.[more]

The organisation calls to end intimidation of Rural Media and to amend Repressive Laws Before 2011 Elections.[more]

There are 40 names on this year’s list of Predators of Press Freedom – 40 politicians, government officials, religious leaders, militias and criminal organisations that cannot stand the press, treat it as an enemy and directly attack journalists. They are powerful, dangerous, violent and above the law.[more]

Kagiso Media has applied to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for an extension of the deadline for aspirant providers of digital TV signal to mobile handsets to apply for a license. Meanwhile, the Mobile TV Consortium is preparing to take ICASA to court next week to halt the awarding of the licenses.[more]

“One of the objects of a newspaper is to understand the popular feeling and give

expression to it; another is to arouse among the people certain desirable sentiments; the third is fearlessly to expose popular defects.” - Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi[more]

It has been an eventful for the citizen media scene in Madagascar. The blogosphere in Madagascar has been growing slowly but steadily the past decade, slightly struggling to find its voice until the 2009 political crisis. The sudden precipitation of events that provoked high demand for frequent updates provided a unique set up for the budding blogosphere to assert their potential, despite the evident challenges. The past events have been thoroughly documented so let us focus on the consequence of the crisis on citizen journalists and conversely the impact of citizen media on the evolution of the crisis.[more]

New York, April 30, 2010—Four journalists who covered the recent dismissal of the electoral commission chairman received anonymous death threats via text message on Wednesday, according to CPJ interviews and news reports. The messages, sent from the same number, said the reporters would meet the fate of three slain Nigerian journalists.[more]

New York, April 30, 2010—In light of the Ethiopian government’s longstanding practice of jailing journalists on trumped-up criminal charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the detentions last week of two government TV journalists on allegations of misusing state property. CPJ is monitoring the legal proceedings closely.[more]

Press freedom remains a mirage. MMPZ joins Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in commemorating World Press Freedom Day on Monday, May 3rd.[more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the African regional organization of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), strongly protests the Zambian government’s on-going attempts to impose a statutory regulatory council on the media in the country, a move strongly opposed by the Zambian independent media community. [more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the African regional organisation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), today denounced the prevailing climate of insecurity in Nigeria which led to the murders of three newspapers journalists during sectarian violence which has gripped Africa’s most heavily populated nation.

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On 22 April 2010 the government of Swaziland announced that it had approved the contentious Media Commission Bill, 2007 which seeks to regulate the media by statute.

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Editor of the privately-owned Nation magazine, Bheki Makhubu, who is facing criminal contempt of court charges for two articles published recently in his monthly magazine, has said the articles he has been charged for do not constitute contempt of court. The case returned to court on 21 April 2010 but was later postponed.[more]

Freelance journalist Stanley Gama has been subpoenaed to appear in court on 6 May 2010 together with four journalists from the weekly Standard newspaper.[more]

New York, April 26, 2010—Three Nigerian journalists were killed in two separate incidents over the weekend. Muslim rioters killed two reporters working with a local Christian newspaper on Saturday, according to local journalists and news reports. Also on Saturday, court reporter Edo Sule Ugbagwu, at left, from the private daily The Nation was shot dead at his home by two gunmen, according to local journalists.

[more]

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) could face legal action if it did not reconsider its decision to give companies just three weeks to apply for the new digital mobile television service license.[more]

The Media Liaison Committee (MLC) has postponed the launch of the recently created Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) on 3 May 2010 as earlier planned.[more]

Election monitoring site, Sudan Vote Monitor, was blocked for six days last week. Reporters Without Border reported about the site being blocked and called for total unblocking. [more]

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat is deeply concerned at the Zambian Government’s attempt to impose a statutory media council and calls upon the Zambian media to form a united front in rejecting this move.[more]

Letter to the President of the Republic of Cameroon[more]

Five months after the establishment of the office of the Namibian Media Ombudsman in November 2009, it is reported that seven complaints from the public have thus far been handled.

[more]

Zimbabwe’s 30th independence anniversary overshadowed all other topical news in the government media, such as the endless power-sharing stalemate, constitutional reforms, the controversial mining of Chiadzwa’s diamonds, and ZANU PF’s black economic empowerment programme, which have all preoccupied Zimbabwe’s domestic media for the past three months.[more]

New York, April 22, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists is outraged by today’s death of newspaper editor Germain S. Ngota Ngota, whose health deteriorated while he was incarcerated in Cameroon. The death certificate for Ngota, editor of the private bimonthly Cameroon Express, determined that the journalist died from a lack of medical attention in Kondengui prison in the capital, Yaoundé, according to editors Hilaire Medjo of the weekly Nouvelle Vision and François Fogno Fotso of the weekly Génération Libre.[more]

NAIROBI, 21 April 2010 (IRIN) - There are few countries in the world more dangerous to be a journalist than Somalia, where nine were killed in 2009, and 22 since 2005.[more]

For the past few years, journalists, cameramen and photographers operating in South Africa have been subject to police intimidation, illegal detention, verbal abuse and manhandling at crime scenes, political events and courts.

[more]

Zimbabwe's power-sharing government has not carried out critical media reforms as promised under the country's September 2008 Global Political Agreement, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.[more]

They Are ‘Working with the Insurgents’, Transitional Federal Government Says :Days after Islamist insurgent group Hizbul Islam banned radio stations in Mogadishu from playing music of any description, journalists in the embattled Somali capital found themselves facing an ultimatum from the government after it announced that all radio stations complying with the ban would face closure.[more]

The New Election Expenses Act, 2010 contains provisions that hinder access to information, according to MISA-Tanzania report on “Tracking Parliamentary Sessions”.[more]

I was passing through Accra recently and while walking through the lobby of the hotel was stopped by a poster for a regional conference on Freedom of Information and at the same time ran into several colleagues and old friends. It was an interesting exercise to be very aware of an issue and personalities but be on the outside looking.[more]

JED is expressing serious concern over a recent wave of interrogations and harassment of journalists in Kinshasa and other provinces in the country. JED is calling on security officials and judicial authorities to show restraint and refrain from inflaming an already tense situation for media professionals following the killing of reporter Patient Chebeya Bankome last week in North Kivu province. [more]

In response to harassment and intimidation of Liberian journalists by security personnel, the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP), with support from the IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy Programme, convened a symposium on 7 April in Monrovia, bringing together members of the media, academia, civil society, security agencies and government. Security forces were asked to protect journalists so they can do their work and to understand the importance of press freedom, and journalists were asked to respect the role of security personnel. [more]

With workshops and training for 128 experienced African journalists behind them, the organizers of the Twenty Ten project have moved on to the newest and most exciting phase: commissioning this select group of journalists from 34 countries to create photo, text, radio and multimedia features that add depth and breadth to the body of work already being produced about Africa in advance of the World Cup.[more]

The governor of the northern Uige province Thursday sworn in the new provincial director of Mass Media, Andeiro João, recently appointed under the governor's decree.[more]

The Zambian government has said that the proposed framework in the Fringilla Consensus falls short of a genuine self regulatory framework and would not be able to achieve effective self regulation of the media in the country. [more]

Police threaten journalists.

The authorities once again demonstrated their intolerance of a free media seeking to fulfill their mandate as public watchdogs of government propriety when they interrogated local journalists investigating reports of corrupt activities by prominent individuals, including a government minister.[more]

The broadcasting and telecoms regulator is racing against time to issue mobile-TV licences in time for the Soccer World Cup tournament starting on 11 June 2010. The Independent Communications Authority of SAouth Africa (Icasa) plans to issue licences for the broadcasting of content via cellphones before June.[more]

This is a monthly update of topical issues in the broadcasting/telecommunications/ICT sector in Southern Africa. In this issue: Concern over the dissolution of the digital migration council in South Africa.[more]

Channels TV Cameraman Felix Vincent taken to Hospital: A cameraman working for Nigerian broadcaster Channels Television was assaulted on Tuesday in a clash that erupted following an attack on the vehicle of the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, according to local media reports, and Channels Television News Editor Ronke Raji.[more]

From Wednesday April 14th, 2010 to Saturday April 24th, 2010, Ben Peterson, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of jhr (Journalists for Human Rights), will accompany Canada's Governor General, Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean and a team of Canadian delegates to undertake State visits to The Republic of Senegal, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda and Cape Verde. [more]

South African President Jacob Zuma has reinforced freedom of expression and condemned the treatment of a BBC journalist by the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema during a press conference on 8 April 2010. [more]

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s decision by Rwanda’s Media High Council to suspend two independent weeklies just months prior to presidential elections. At a press conference, attended only by state broadcasters and the pro-government radio station Contact FM, the Media High Council announced an immediate six month suspension of private vernacular weeklies, Umuseso and Umuvugizi.[more]

TERMS OF REFERENCE & COMMITMENT:a. Background-The Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) held its 2010 National Party Conference in Bo from Friday, February 26 to Sunday, February 28, 2010, attended by delegates and observers from constituencies, districts, regional and national executives as well as Parliament and Diaspora branches. Members of the Fourth Estate were also invited to cover the event.[more]

Every Health-e journalist has made the finals of the annual Discovery Health Journalism Excellence Awards, which were announced today. Anso Thom of Health-e won the Discovery Health Journalist of the Year Award in 2009. This year, Health-e journalists are finalists in five categories. [more]

The Minister of Mass Media, Carolina Cerqueira, on 12 April 2010 highlighted the need to enhance the Production Centre of Public Television of Angola (TPA) in Camama, in order to get from it more dividends and benefits of large valences, both within the recording, training and production levels.[more]

The launch of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) has been set for 3 May 2010 to coincide with the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, the Media Liaison Committee (MLC) has said.[more]

The Forum of Women Journalists for Gender Equality (FMJIG) urged for the need to speed up in handling of the criminal cases of individuals who commit violence against women and children at home.[more]

Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns the Islamist militia Al-Shabaab’s announcement today that it is banning local radio stations in the regions it controls from retransmitting the broadcasts of the BBC and Voice of America on the grounds that they carry Christian propaganda.[more]

A few weeks I had a chance to return to Nicaragua for a brief visit. The Fundacion Chamorro invited me to talk about the role of the state in processes of media reform. As usual, I learned a great deal by talking to old colleagues and new friends about ongoing efforts to strengthen media democracy in the country.[more]

An informal expert meeting on media and development hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the European Commission (EC) in Addis Ababa, March 23-25 agreed a range of practical proposals in support of African media. Participants representing journalists, media owners, media development practitioners, journalism schools and self-regulatory structures in Africa highlighted the important role the AUC can play in promoting media freedom and independent journalism in Africa.[more]

Mashundu Netsianda a correspondent with a regional daily publication The Chronicle who is based in Beitbridge was on 8 April 2010 arrested in the southern border town over a story involving a shooting incident.[more]

‘All I’m Doing is Giving People Information They Can’t Get from the Government,’ Says Yusupha Cham. The Gambian founder and managing director of Jollof News Online, Yusupha Cham, who lives in exile in Birmingham, UK, told IPI on Wednesday that he has received three emailed death threats since the beginning of the year. Copies of the emails were forwarded to the IPI Secretariat in Vienna. [more]

A new structural expansion of Namibia Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) will be effected to strengthen government’s capacity to promote information and communication technology in the country.

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Angola News Agency (ANGOP) and the Latin-Informative Agency, Cuban S.A, Prensa Latina, signed in Luanda on 8 April 2010 a cooperation agreement in the dominion of news and professional upgrading.[more]

The Commission of the African Union (AUC) and the European Union (EU) convened a joint meeting of experts in Addis Ababa, March 23-25, on the theme "Media and Development".[more]

Confusion over the fate of the ZANU PF/MDC power-sharing talks and the visit by the controversial ANC Youth League chairman, Julius Malema, received widespread publicity in the media this week.[more]

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will launch on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 a fund to provide low-interest credits to address the financial challenges of small and medium private and independent media in West Africa.[more]

Sierra Leone’s State radio broadcaster has merged with the United Nations station in the West African country to form a new entity that aims to become an independent and professional provider of news and entertainment across the nation.[more]

When police used violence to disperse a demonstration by about 100 people outside parliament on 6 April they also targeted journalists covering the event, one of several protests against a 29-year-old state of emergency that were held in the centre of Cairo that day in response to a call by the 6 April Movement.[more]

A Press council organizing committee has been formed at a meeting which attracted professionals from different media professionals associations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, according to a media release from the Eastern Africa Journalists Association. [more]

Feluna Nleya and Jennifer Dube reporters with the privately owned Standard weekly were on 31 April 2010 questioned by police from the Law and Order Section for exposing an alleged massive land scandal involving the Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo and businessperson Philip Chiyangwa.[more]

On 30 March 2010 in Luanda the Angolan Social Communication minister, Carolina Cerqueira, urged on the journalists to respect the truth in their research and investigation of facts.[more]

Journaliste en Danger (JED) has expressed its outrage after a sixth journalist in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was killed on 5 April 2010. JED is calling on local authorities to provide an explanation for the murders and asks that no lead be overlooked in investigating the motive for this crime. [more]

Somali Human Rights defenders Network (SOHRIDEN) is seriously concerned about the escalating crisis and violations towards the freedom of expression in Somalia. Hizbul Islam have imposed on all radio stations operating in Mogadishu not to play music and songs , especially to those under their controlling area, As Moalim Hashi declared in his press conference of 3 April 2010 in Mogadishu.[more]

JED has condemned the unlawful detention and heavy damages award handed down to an independent print journalist at Kisangani Central Prison in Orientale province, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. JED demands his immediate release and reminds the county court judge of every defendant's right to a fair and lawful trial. [more]

Dear Mr. Speaker, The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the proposed amendment to the 1995 Ugandan Press and Journalist Act, which is expected to be presented before parliament soon. We believe the bill would severely hamper the operations of newspapers and damage the country’s press freedom credentials. [more]

Reporters Without Borders hopes that a three-day national conference on the media that ended yesterday in Niamey will help to restore press freedom in Niger and establish a new relationship between its government and news media.[more]

The appeals trial in the case involving the Editor in Chief of Umuvugizi newspaper, Jean Bosco Gasasira was on 25th March 2010 adjourned to 23rd April 2010 when the presiding judge will rule on whether witnesses should be called.[more]

ARTICLE 19 today releases its analysis of the proposed Press and Journalist (Amendment) Bill 2010, and the Press and Journalist Act 1995, which the Ugandan government seeks to amend. ARTICLE 19 recommends that the Ugandan government repeal the whole Press and Journalist Act rather than amend it and adopt a fundamentally different approach to the regulation of print media and journalism that respects the government’s international obligations on freedom of expression.[more]

In a meeting last week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the European Commission (EC) announced that they no longer intend to create a Pan African Media Observatory (PAMO) due to opposition from the media community, and African and international organisations - including a number of IFEX members, reports Media Rights Agenda (MRA). [more]

Free the airwaves.

Fears that the authorities are attempting to circumvent genuine media reform were reignited with the news that ZBC is forging ahead with plans to launch a new national television station, ZBCTV 2, without any indication that it is attempting to reform its existing inept and biased television “service”.[more]

The definition of “terrorism” in the Proclamation should be narrowed to include only acts of serious crime that pose a serious threat to life, safety or property and that are intended to advance an ideological, religious or political cause and influence the government by inflicting terror on the public.[more]

Freelance journalist Stanley Gama was on 30 March 2010 summoned to Harare Central Police Station where he was questioned in connection with an article that appeared in the Zimbabwean edition of The Sunday Times published in South Africa.[more]

Britain's media watchdog on Tuesday upheld a complaint against a blog written by a journalist in what was its first-ever move to censure a newspaper or magazine over comments by a blogger. [more]

Journalists should not be harassed or arrested while conducting their lawful professional duties, the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu said in Harare on 28 March 2010.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is extremely concerned by a resolution condemning “defamation of religions” which the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted on 25 March. It was submitted by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).[more]

ARTICLE 19 has delivered a training workshop in Kenya on media law and

freedom of expression for 30 lawyers, judges, prosecutors and state officials from

Ethiopia and Kenya. This is especially relevant at a time when increasingly

restrictive laws are being passed in Ethiopia to control civil society organisations and there are concerns about the Ethiopian Government’s commitment to freedom of expression in the country.[more]

The second continental congress of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the African regional organisation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has been concluded Sunday in Harare, Zimbabwe, on a call for a stronger and more united journalist movement in the Africa. [more]

The Seychelles National Assembly has passed a bill that will transform the Seychelles Nation, the only national newspaper in the country, from a government department to an agency, according to a release from the Eastern Africa Journalists' Association. [more]

The United Nations Mission in Sudan is taking to the airwaves with a new radio drama series aimed at raising public awareness on various issues, including measures related to the ongoing process of implementing the peace accord that ended two decades of civil war in Africa’s largest country.[more]

ARTICLE 19, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the International News Safety Institute (INSI) have welcomed a draft resolution on protection of journalists in situations of armed conflict which has been proposed at the thirteenth session of the UN Human Rights Council by Bangladesh, Egypt and Mexico.

[more]

The Government of Swaziland insists on media statutory regulation and has vowed to push through the Media Commission Bill 2007 which seeks to regulate the media by statute. The government recently declined to register the voluntary Media Complaints Commission (MCC), a self-regulatory framework.[more]

The Sunday Mail (21/3)’s heavily editorialized front-page news story of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s meeting with members of the new Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) to ensure that it begins its work of licensing new media products without delay, vividly exposed the negative sentiments of the newspaper’s managers to media reforms.[more]

Voice of America (VOA) began satellite broadcasts of its Amharic-language programs to Ethiopia this week after Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi ordered that VOA’s broadcasts be blocked. [more]

Reporters Without Borders is baffled by the fact that Albert Yangari, the publisher and editor of the newspaper L’Union, and Jonas Moulenda, one of his reporters, have been summoned three times in connection with a libel suit brought by Alfred Nguia Banda, the former director-general of the Gabonese Shippers Council (CGC), which oversees maritime traffic in Gabon.[more]

The Zwedru Magisterial Court in Grand Gedeh County has acquitted Smile FM's former station manager Garley Mahn of charges of disorderly conduct. [more]

Several journalists were beaten and shot at as they faced the fury of authorities and demonstrators in clashes at the site of Ugandan royal tombs destroyed in an arson attack last week, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Three people were killed. Journalists are also under threat from the state as it attempts to muzzle the media and target critical journalists with repressive amendments to the press law, reports the International Press Institute (IPI) and Freedom House. [more]

Reporters Without Borders deplores yesterday’s ruling by an Islamic court in Kaduna, in the northern state of Zamfara, ordering a Nigerian human rights group, the Civil Rights Congress, to close its blog and stop hosting debates on Twitter and Facebook about the use of amputation to punish theft. The debates were prompted by the 10th anniversary of Nigeria’s first amputation under Sharia law.[more]

The Government of Swaziland is currently finalizing a Bill that will see current state broadcasters, Swazi TV and the national radio station, Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS), being transformed into public service broadcasters.[more]

A Somali journalist was ordered by an Al Shabab court to leave the port city of Kismayo within 36 hours on Monday, local sources told IPI today.[more]

Freelance journalist Nunurai Jena was on 21 March 2010 detained by security officials at Beitbridge Border Post on his way home from South Africa. [more]

Launching April 2, 2010, Building Bridges will recognise and reward peacemakers and peace projects across Kenya as a way of strengthening the peace building capacity of Kenyan citizens. Kenya needs peace to prosper and everyone has a role to play. The campaign supports people from all backgrounds to make a change. Building Bridges, in partnership with Media Focus on Africa Foundation and Butterfly Works, is raising awareness and support for the winning initiatives and individuals through an interactive online platform buildingbridges.co.ke. The campaign will run for three months and the winning individuals and organisations will receive cash prizes. [more]

Reporters Without Borders is disturbed to learn that access to the website of the independent news radio station, Radio Kalima-Algérie (www.kalimadz.com), has been completely blocked for the past two days. At the same time, Eutelsat has stopped carrying the station’s broadcasts on its Hotbird satellite.[more]

An amendment to the Ugandan Press and Journalist Law presently before the Ugandan cabinet contains a number of deeply troubling provisions that, if made into law, would severely inhibit the media environment and do considerable damage to the reputation of Uganda in the eyes of the international community.[more]

Sanna Camara and Saikou Jammeh, reporters of privately-owned Banjul-based The Daily News newspaper were on March 17, 2009 arrested and detained by military officers drawn from the Tourism Security Unit (TSU) of the Gambia Armed Forces, while on an editorial assignment at a tourist site.[more]

The journal on economic, policy and development studies is published by eight Mozambican universities and is produced with UNDP support. It contains information produced in Mozambique, about Mozambique and for Mozambicans.[more]

The Ashanti Youth Incorporated, a traditional youth group in Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city, on March 22, 2010 gave a three-day ultimatum to the management of Multimedia Broadcasting Company owners of a network of radio stations including Luv FM in Kumasi, to sack the of host a morning newspaper review programme, Ato Kwamena Dadzie, for allegedly insulting the king of Asanti, the Asantehene. [more]

A speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Nation Media Group: "Media and the African Promise," delivered on 18 March 2010:[more]

For too long, news about and for Africans has come predominately from outsiders. International media portrayals of Africans have often been unrecognizable to Africans.[more]

An address by Amadou Mahtar Ba, Chief Executive Officer of the African Media Initiative and President of AllAfrica.com to the first Pan African Media Conference, 18-19 March 2010, Nairobi, Kenya:[more]

The United States opposes Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles’ decision to jam Voice of America’s Amharic Service and condemns his comparison of their programming to Radio Mille Collines of Rwanda. [more]

International Press Institute (IPI) Director David Dadge on Friday addressed the Pan Africa Media Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of a panel entitled “Media Freedom: A Balance Sheet.”[more]

On 10 March 2010, a combined team of security agents from the Anti-Terrorism Squad and anti-riot policemen attached to the Onitsha Area Command assaulted and detained four journalists for three hours for covering a peaceful demonstration. The demonstration was staged by members of the Association of Radio and Television Technicians Anambra State (ARTTANS) in the commercial city of Onitcha in Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. The affected journalists were Daniel Ukpai and Augustine Ngwu, both of whom are reporters for Minaj Broadcast International (MBI) in Obosi, MBI cameraman Samuel Nwabuisi and Ifeanyinwa Ede, a reporter for the Nigerian Television Authority in Onitsha. A Sony PD 170 digital camera belonging to MBI was also damaged by the policemen. [more]

JED condemns the arrest and ill treatment of Radio Télévision Bangu head of programming Mohamed Lukebana by national security officers in Kimpese, about 145 km from the town of Matadi in Bas Congo province, southwest of Kinshasa. JED has noticed a rather disturbing trend of harassment of journalists in Bas Congo province by intelligence agents and is appealing to provincial authorities to put an end to this intimidation.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the conduct of the investigation into the murder of Bayo Ohu, the assistant news editor of the Lagos-based daily The Guardian, who was shot dead at his home in a Lagos suburb on 20 September 2009.[more]

In 2008 refugee journalists in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, set up KANERE, a news reporting project 'to counter the monopoly on information enjoyed by humanitarian organisations that largely control access to and information about refugee camps.' They believed that a refugee free press could ‘open up new spaces for public debate and action on refugee encampment.’ But KANERE’s unwillingness to allow aid agencies to play a role in the publication appears to be putting both the future of the project and the safety of its team in jeopardy, as this background note outlines: [more]

‘National Unity and Reconciliation Act Should not be Used to Justify Censorship’: The International Press Institute (IPI) today declared its support for the position of the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and Appeal Judge KK Mthiyane in the case of The Citizen vs. Robert McBride. [more]

JED is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of two journalists who have been held since last weekend at a prison in Bandundu, western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling the arrest and detention "an intolerable abuse of power by the provincial governor's chief secretary." [more]

News of South African President Jacob Zuma’s visit to persuade Zimbabwe’s coalition parties to resolve the increasing number of disputes within the alliance dominated the private media’s coverage of the widely reported power-sharing quarrels during the week.[more]

Hatari.co.ke is is a website that allows anyone in Nairobi, Kenya, to submit reports about crime and corruption in the city. ("Hatari" means "danger" in Swahili.) It will provide the growing city and its inhabitants with a repository of public information about incidents such as carjacking, corruption, police harassment and others. [more]

In a country that suffers from an increasingly restrictive media environment, proposed legislation amending the 1995 Press and Journalist Act in Uganda will further stifle freedom of expression, according to Freedom House.[more]

Nairobi — Following are remarks presented at the launch of the "Reporting Development Network Africa" during a reception at the Sienna Hotel prior to the opening of the Pan African Media Conference 2010.[more]

The Ethiopian government is settling political scores against journalists by slamming four newspaper publishing companies with crippling fines in reprisal for their coverage of the disputed 2005 elections, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The state is threatening to freeze their assets if the fines are not paid. [more]

Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns three new arrests of journalists by the Al-Shabaab militia. [more]

ZMC must get to work on media reforms

MMPZ welcomes President Mugabe’s remarks while addressing the media at Zimbabwe House last week that the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) should immediately start operating, as there was no reason for not doing so. [more]

On 9 March 2010, opposition Patriotic Front (PF) President, Michael Sata sued the Times of Zambia for defamation and has applied for an interim injunction to restrain the newspaper and its servants or agents from publishing any defamatory words concerning him.[more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the African Regional Organisation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), today strongly criticized the Press and Journalists Bill in Uganda on the grounds that it is unsound and constitutes a major stumbling block to press freedom and democratic standards in the country. [more]

Oukasie, Sharpville, Orange Farm, Siyathemba: images of violent protest action against poor service delivery have dominated the news in the past few weeks, signalling growing frustration with the Jacob Zuma administration’s failure to address the implosion of services in parts of South Africa.[more]

Dear President Biya, We are writing to express our alarm at the harassment and abuse of at least a dozen journalists in Cameroon. These reporters each raised questions about your administration’s management of public finances, the progress of an anti-corruption drive dubbed Operation Sparrowhawk, and local government affairs. We call on you to hold members of the administration accountable for using security forces and criminal laws to settle scores with the media. We further urge you to initiate reforms that would refer matters of defamation to civil courts.[more]

On 4 March 2010, the day of the Togolese presidential election, Radio France, Radio France Internationale (RFI), RTL and the daily "La Croix" were finally granted visas for Togo. Special correspondents from Radio France and RFI then travelled to Lomé, but the last-minute decision to grant them visas allowed for only partial coverage of the election.[more]

Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) strategies are viewed in many contemporary business circles as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. BoP refers to the 2.6 billion people who live below the $2 a day breadline and many business strategists argue that if targeted correctly, these consumers can offer businesses access to one of the fastest growing markets. Even if the price of products and services has to be reduced, profit can be made up in volume.[more]

The International Press Institute (IPI) today wrote an open letter to Ghanaian President Atta Mills, calling on him to ensure that attacks on journalists in the West African country are promptly investigated, and that the perpetrators are brought to justice. In recent weeks, a number of incidents of violence against journalists - often allegedly at the hands of political party supporters or police officers - have been reported. IPI calls for an end to impunity, and would like to note that until those who attack journalists realize that they cannot escape justice by hiding behind their police badge or party affiliation, violence against reporters will continue. Continuing reports of violence against journalists damage Ghana’s reputation as the freest country for media in Africa.[more]

Fear has gripped independent journalists in Rwanda amidst reports that one reporter has gone missing.

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The fight for free access to information is being played out to an ever greater extent on the Internet. The emerging general trend is that a growing number of countries are attemptimg to tighten their control of the Net, but at the same time, increasingly inventive netizens demonstrate mutual solidarity by mobilizing when necessary.[more]

A Liberian journalist, Garley Mahn, has been released on bail by police in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. Journalist Mahn was released following two days in detention. [more]

Food insecurity on the African continent is severely aggravated by a depletion of nutrients in the soil that leads to a decrease in soil productivity. A remedy to this problem is the increased use of fertilizers, yet many African farmers cannot afford or access this agricultural input that farmers on other continents have used in abundance to dramatically increase food production. Using more fertilizer would prevent African farmers from having to plant so expansively but allow them to have higher crop yields in smaller areas without depleting the soil.[more]

Reporters Without Borders celebrates World Day Against Cyber Censorship on 12 March. This event is intended to rally everyone in support of a single Internet that is unrestricted and accessible to all. It is also meant to draw attention to the fact that, by creating new spaces for exchanging ideas and information, the Internet is a force for freedom. However, more and more governments have realised this and are reacting by trying to control the Internet.[more]

An angry crowd of mourners attending a mass funeral in Dogo Nahawa, central Nigeria, assaulted state radio reporter Murtala Sani on Monday. Sani, a reporter for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, was assigned to cover the funeral of more than 40 people killed during a bloody March 7 attack on four villages in central Nigeria.[more]

The Government of Swaziland has launched a Swaziland Communications Commission Draft Bill 2009 to regulate the broadcasting sector in the country. Once the Bill becomes law, the Commission will among other things, issue licences to TV and radio broadcasters.[more]

Mbariza Ntore” (Kirundi for “inform us so that we can vote”) is a media support project of the Dutch NGO, La Benevolencija, set up with a total of 18 different media houses (radio, print press, TV, Internet and news agency) in Burundi. The project enhances the capacity of citizens to better understand the conditions in which they are being invited to fulfill their political rights.[more]

Efforts by the local media to operationalize a self-regulatory framework have failed following government’s refusal to register the Media Complaints Commission (MCC). The media have now resolved to appeal to the Minister of Information for intervention though reserving the right to approach the High Court of Swaziland to compel the government to register the MCC.[more]

Journalists in Kigali are on tenterhooks after President Paul Kagame, left, made new accusations of their supposed involvement in a bomb attack in Rwanda. Just months before Rwanda’s presidential elections, Kigali was recently hit by two grenade attacks that killed two people and injured 30 others, according to news reports.[more]

On 1 March 2010, MISA-Zambia submitted before the Parliamentary committee on Information and Broadcasting Services that the operation of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) (Amendment) Act of 2002 was long overdue and has since condemned government proposals to amend the Act before it is even implemented.[more]

Police brutality and legal action are the two greatest sources of attacks on journalists in Liberia, says the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) in its 2009 report. Journalists and media workers also face death threats, detention and censorship. [more]

The Ugandan parliament has passed a bill that protects individuals who disclose information on corruption or law-breaking in government or private bodies, reports ARTICLE 19. But Ugandan journalists are fighting for the right to do their jobs as press freedom violations escalated in the country in 2009 with countless radio stations shut down, say local rights groups. [more]

Amnesty International has welcomed the release of an Egyptian blogger, who was facing jail after he published a post alleging nepotism within the armed forces.[more]

The Ethiopian Supreme Court today ruled against four independent media houses, forcing them to pay fines that were originally rendered void under a 2007 pardon. The four publishing companies, Serkalem, Sisay, Zekarias and Fasil, must now pay a total of 295,000 Birr (approx. €16,100) - more than the average Ethiopian would earn in a century, according to income figures from the International Fund for Agricultural Development.[more]

The Kanifing Magistrate Court on March 8, 2010 remanded Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaeme, a local human rights defender and a Director of Programmes of the Banjul-based Africa in Democracy and Good Governance (ADG) in police custody for allegedly “giving false information”.[more]

WAN-IFRA and IASN welcome release of kidnapped journalists [more]

The privately-owned Nation Magazine and its Editor, Bheki Makhubu, have been taken to court by the Attorney General (AG) for criminal contempt of court following an article published by the magazine in November 2009 criticizing judges of the Supreme Court. However the magazine has told MISA-Swaziland that they will defend the case.[more]

A free media is a critical component in the creation and maintenance of a healthy and vibrant democracy. It plays a key monitoring, evaluation and watchdog role over both private and public institutions. [more]

MISA Malawi has issued an appeal to the country’s president Bingu wa Mutharika to intervene on reports that government departments have been given a directive to stop advertising with some private media houses in the country, among them, Nation Publications Limited (NPL), publishers of The Nation, Weekend Nation, Nation On Sunday and Fuko. [more]

ARTICLE 19 welcomes the recent bold move by the Uganda Parliament to pass

the Whistleblowers Bill, a critical milestone in the country’s efforts to stem

corruption and embrace transparency and accountability.[more]

On 1 March 2010, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) expressed extreme shock at the decision of the military prosecutor to try blogger and student Ahmed Mostafa, 20, in a military court for allegedly publishing false information about the military establishment, after an unusually quick investigation, according to ANHRI lawyers of the Legal Aid Unit who attended the interrogation sessions.[more]

Voice of America (VOA) reported today that its transmissions to Ethiopia are being electronically jammed. The Ethiopian government denied responsibility. [more]

Reporters Without Borders today expressed deep concern about the plight of two sports journalists working for South African M-Net Supersport television who were kidnapped on 1st March and are still being held hostage.[more]

Whose election is this? That was the question I am left with at the end of a fascinating week where I have heard directly from a top

Labour campaign strategist, Welsh voters, and LSE political pundits. If you believe the mainstream media it is in the hands of the spin doctors and journalists. The pollsters and professors say it’s ‘motorway man’ in the marginals. I am not so sure.[more]

ARTICLE 19 expresses grave concerns that press freedom in Rwanda is deteriorating and that criminal charges being brought against journalists in Rwanda will contribute to the silencing of independent media voices ahead of the presidential elections later this

year.[more]

Tsvangirai’s sanctions comment fuels state media propaganda

The recent furore over Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s sanctions comments reignited debate over the power of television to selectively quote politicians and the weakness of politicians who make public statements that can be used to support issues they do not necessarily agree with.[more]

Last month, I had the pleasure to meet again with Shaazka Beyerle, Senior Advisor at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, during her visit to Washington.[more]

New York, March 4, 2010—Voice of America (VOA) reported today that its transmissions to Ethiopia are being electronic jammed. The Ethiopian government denied responsibility.[more]

More than 450,000 people have signed an online petition urging Uganda's parliament to drop a bill that would impose the death sentence for the crime of "aggravated homosexuality" - when an HIV-positive person has sex with anyone who is disabled or under the age of 18.[more]

Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that local retransmission of the French TV news station France 24 resumed yesterday in Côte d’Ivoire after the National Council for Audiovisual Communication (CNCA), which is responsible for regulating broadcasting, decided to rescind the suspension order it issued on 22 February.[more]

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns firmly the physical assault and violence by security operatives and supporters of the opposition Sierra Leone people’s party (SLPP) in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone against ten journalists.[more]

The Angolan government is targeting human rights defenders with intimidation, harassment and detention, says Human Rights Watch. The lethal attack on Togolese football players by Angolan separatist rebels in January was also used as an excuse to round up critics of the government. At least eight activists have been arrested since the attack and journalists have been threatened. [more]

Security forces fired on anti-government protesters in the city of Gagnoa, Ivory Coast, killing five and injuring several others on 19 February, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). French TV news station France 24 was suspended after its coverage of the incident and opposition newspapers have been threatened. [more]

The Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP) has launched the 3rd edition of its account of threats to freedom of expression with calls for the government and authorities to recognize and support the inalienable rights of others to dissent.[more]

Participants from the African Regional Conference on the Right of Access to Information today released the Regional Findings and Plan of Action to advance the right in Africa. The conference found that while access to information is a fundamental human right, political and institutional constraints in Africa have limited the opportunities to exercise the right. [more]

New York, March 2, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the safety of two sports journalists, one South African and one Nigerian, who were seized by unidentified gunmen in military uniforms on Monday. The gunmen stopped a bus carrying 21 crew members of M-Net’s SuperSport channel, a South African private satellite television station, and took the three journalists hostage, local journalists told CPJ. Another Nigerian journalist was able to escape.[more]

New York, March 1, 2010—A Zimbabwean freelance journalist was arrested today for the third time this year—this time for taking footage of prisoners outside a courthouse in the capital, Harare, according to local journalists.[more]

Freelance photojournalist Andrison Manyere has been released from police custody after paying US$20 admission of guilt fine for disorderly conduct in a public place.[more]

The re-run elections for a new executive of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) held in Bulawayo on 27 February 2010 have yet again sparked controversy with some members of the union describing them as null and void.[more]

A newly-launched privately-owned newspaper, Swazi Mirror, is being sued to pay damage of E800 000 (US $150 000) by the publisher of a rival paper, the Times of Swaziland.[more]

Freelance photojournalist Andrison Manyere was on 1 March 2010 arrested at the Harare Magistrates Courts while filming the arrival of accused persons charged with attempting to overthrow the government of Zimbabwe.[more]

Lucia Afate, a parliamentary deputy for Mozambique’s main opposition party, the former rebel movement Renamo, is suing journalist Jose Vasco da Gama over a story that appeared in the weekly paper “Magazine Independente” (MI) in 2009, which claimed that Afate had secretly married Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama in a traditional ceremony in the northern province of Nampula.[more]

Ghana’s Supreme Court on February 24, 2010 awarded 2,000 GH Cedis (approximately US$1400) in favour of privately-owned Accra-based TheDaily Dispatch newspaper, its editor, reporter and publisher, Ben Ephson, Akwasi Mensah and Allied News Limited respectively, as legal costs, in a 2003 defamation case brought against them.[more]

Reporters Without Borders condemns university student Ahmed Abdel Fattah Mustafa’s trial by court martial for blogging about army human rights violations. Held incommunicado since his arrest by state security agents on 25 February, he appeared today before a Cairo military court on charges of “publishing false news” and trying to “undermine people’s confidence in the armed forces.” The trial was adjourned.[more]

Only 24% of persons seen, heard, or read about in the news are female. This is one of the key findings of the 2010 Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP). The preliminary report is being released on 2 March 2010 at a panel discussion and debate on the occasion of the 54th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. [more]

Hanevy Ould Dehah, the editor of the website Taqadoumy, was finally freed today along with around 100 ordinary offenders under a presidential pardon issued in honour of Mawlid (the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday).

[more]

ARTICLE 19 today releases its analysis of the Kenya Communications (Broadcasting) Regulations, which came into force in January 2010, and recommends several changes to bring the Law in line with international standards.[more]

There was a 64% increase in the coverage of the activities of the inclusive government in the public media, from 220 stories in January to 360 in the month under review. However, there was still no evidence of compliance by these media to provisions of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) requiring them to give equitable coverage to the coalition partners.[more]

Mahoso’s ghost resurfaces

MMPZ welcomes the official appointment of commissioners to the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) and hopes that this will finally expedite the licensing of new newspapers.[more]

Last week, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a workshop in Freetown to discuss the issue of sexual violence in Sierra Leone and ways in which the media could serve a positive role in drawing attention to the matter.[more]

SOME Zanu PF PF youths on Wednesday detained freelance photo-journalist Andrison Manyere for filming a demonstration held in the capital, Harare.[more]

The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about politically motivated censorship in Ivory Coast after authorities banned international French broadcaster France 24 on Monday on bogus allegations of unprofessionalism over coverage of political unrest in the West African nation.[more]

Journalists in Malawi will now be issued accreditation cards for easy recognition and identification by members of the public. This follows the launching of ethics and accreditation booklets by the Media Council of Malawi (MCM), a body that looks into issues of journalism ethics, complaints, arbitration and accreditation. [more]

Three journalists were sentenced to prison on Monday in Rwanda over a story reporting on an extramarital affair between the mayor of the capital, Kigali, and a government minister, according to local journalists and news reports.[more]

MISA - Zimbabwe welcomes the announcement by Zimbabwe’s largest mobile phone services provider Econet Wireless of its advanced plans to link the country with the rest of the world through a fiber optic cable through the Zambian capital of Lusaka. [more]

Eligible and qualified individuals and/or organizations have an opportunity to own broadcasting stations in Malawi following advertisement by the country’s Communications and Regulatory Authority (MACRA) for broadcasting applications. [more]

Job cuts are looming at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as the new board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Solly Mokoetle strive to slash costs and reduce the bloated head count of nearly 4 000 employees. Details of the staff cutbacks are yet to be finalised, possible reduction of wage bill, a requirement of the R1.47billion state guarantee as well as being a recommendation of the report handed to the new board by the interim board at the end of its term office.[more]

Nairobi, A mobile phone suspended on a belt round the waist, or from the neck, is a common sight among members of church congregations in Africa. Now, church leaders are heaping praise on mobile phones, sometimes called cell phones, because they say the instruments help congregations grow.[more]

President Robert Mugabe on 11 February 2010 gazetted the establishment of the long awaited Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) amid expectations that the Commission will immediately call for applications for licenses for new and old players in the print media. [more]

Today, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) released a trial observation report, The Gambia: Freedom of Expression on Trial, which raises concerns with respect to the Gambia’s compliance with fair trial standards and the application of criminal law to seven journalists who legitimately and peacefully exercised their right to freedom of expression. [more]

Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of a Somali radio journalist held by the armed group al-Shabab, apparently after a report was broadcast alleging the group had killed a man in the Wanleweyn district.[more]

New York, February 22, 2010—Militants from the Al-Qaeda-allied insurgent group Al-Shabaab abducted a reporter in Somalia on Sunday, according to local journalists and news reports.[more]

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Zimbabwean authorities' repeated harassment and intimidation of "The Zimbabwean", a privately-owned newspaper that is edited in Britain and printed in South Africa. In the latest instance, criminal charges of "publishing falsehoods" have been brought against the directors of Adquest, the company that distributes it inside Zimbabwe. No date has yet been set for their trial.[more]

Editing a newspaper is about motivating a team of people to give of their best, and produce gritty, powerful journalism, writes Anton Harber in Business Day. Judging by the air of depression that seems to be pervasive in many newsrooms, too few editors are succeeding in doing that. Anton Harber writes in Business Day:

[more]

The SA National Editors’ Forum is concerned at a new clamp down on foreign and local media in Zimbabwe despite promises by the government that the country’s repressive media laws were under review and would be amended to restore media freedom, according to a media release.[more]

Nana Darkwa, the opposition party sympathizer who was remanded for allegedly implicating Ghana's former president Jerry John Rawlings in a fire that gutted Rawlings' house, was on February 19, 2010 granted bail by an Accra High Court, following an application to that effect by his counsel.[more]

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) the African organization of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) once again condemned the policy of the Tunisian authorities in systematically repressing the independent journalists. [more]

A Civil Law Court in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, on February 17, 2010 ordered the New Democrat, a privately-owned newspaper to pay an outrageous amount of US$ 900,000 as damages for defaming the reputation of Consolidated Group Incorporated, pay per view provider in Liberia. [more]

A Circuit Court in Accra, capital of Ghana, on February 18, 2010 remanded Nana Darkwa, a contributor to a radio discussion programme, into prison custody for two weeks over comments he made on a radio station allegedly implicating Ghana’s former President Jerry John Rawlings in a fire that gutted his (Rawlings’) own house on February 14.[more]

Repressive law used to ‘intimidate’ private media

This week’s attacks on the private media by the chief of police and the subsequent charging, on criminal defamation, of distributors for the foreign - based, privately owned Zimbabwean newspapers, fuels growing cynicism about government’s sincerity in implementing media reforms guaranteed under the Global Political Agreement (GPA).[more]

Four Radio Benghazi journalists who worked on a programme that specialises in covering corruption were arrested yesterday evening outside the station in Benghazi (650 km east of Tripoli) and were released at midday today. Their arrests come amid a general crackdown by the Libyan authorities on news media, especially independent news websites.[more]

Journaliste en Danger (JED) has praise as well as concerns for a new media law passed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 31 December 2009. [more]

The Ghana National Coalition on the Right to Information has expressed concern over the manner in which the government is rushing to pass the Right to Information Bill without regard to due constitutional process as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.[more]

“I didn’t wear the bulletproof jacket and helmet that Reuters gave me,” explained veteran Somali journalist Sahal Abdulle to a packed crowd at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel for CPJ’s launch of Attacks on the Press. “It didn’t seem right when my colleagues, local journalists, were risking their lives trying to cover the same event.” Abdulle, like all Somali journalists, faces immense challenges in covering the story in his war-ravaged country. According to this year’s findings in Attacks, nearly all the journalists killed in the line of duty in 2009 were local journalists—and nine of them were killed in Somalia.[more]

Authorities censored coverage of armed conflict and human rights violations in the mineral-rich eastern Kivu provinces. Insecurity reigned in the volatile region, despite the presence of the world’s largest U.N. peacekeeping force. Tens of thousands of people continued to die every month from conflict, disease, and famine, while human rights groups detailed pervasive rape and sexual violence. The vast Central African nation remained among the region’s riskiest for journalists three years after it transitioned to democracy in historic U.N.-backed elections. Throughout the country, officials harassed and obstructed journalists who criticized local officials.[more]

Ahead of national elections scheduled for May 2010, the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) further curtailed the limited freedom of the country’s small number of independent newspapers. The government enacted harsh legislation that criminalized coverage of vaguely defined “terrorist” activities, and used administrative restrictions, criminal prosecutions, and imprisonments to induce self-censorship. In all, four reporters and editors were being held when CPJ conducted its annual census of imprisoned journalists on 01 December 2009.[more]

Authorities jailed six journalists after their publications said President Yahya Jammeh had been insensitive in televised remarks about the unsolved 2004 murder of prominent Gambian editor Deyda Hydara. The six, convicted in August on baseless charges of sedition, were sentenced to two years in prison but were freed in September after Jammeh, facing considerable domestic and international pressure, issued pardons.[more]

Malagasy journalists faced censorship, threats, and arrest as former president Marc Ravalomanana and new head of state Andry Rajoelina used their partisan media empires in a struggle for control of this Indian Ocean island nation. One journalist was killed in the midst of violent unrest.

[more]

In an audacious bid to maintain power, President Mamadou Tandja pushed through constitutional amendments repealing presidential term limits and tightening his control of the state media regulatory agency. Facing heavy criticism in the run-up to an August referendum on the constitutional changes, the Tandja administration silenced dissent by imprisoning critics, intimidating news media, and issuing an emergency decree dissolving both the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court. Official results showed that the amendments passed with 92 percent approval, but opposition politicians and their supporters had boycotted the vote, which they called a mockery of the constitution.[more]

With 21 national dailies, 12 television stations, and several emerging online news sources, Nigeria continued to boast one of the most vibrant news media cultures on the continent. But a series of attacks fanned fears in the press corps and prompted self-censorship.[more]

Somalia was among the world’s deadliest countries in 2009, surpassing violent hot spots such as Iraq and Pakistan. As conflict continued between the weak Transitional Federal Government and multiple insurgent groups, nine journalists were killed in direct connection to their work, seven of them in the volatile capital, Mogadishu. An exodus of local journalists continued throughout the year, and few international journalists dared travel into the country for firsthand reporting, according to CPJ research. As a result, the amount and quality of news coverage of Somalia’s political and humanitarian crisis suffered greatly, CPJ found.[more]

Violent protests broke out in Kampala in September when security forces blocked leaders of the traditional kingdom of the Baganda, Uganda’s largest ethnic group, from visiting Kayunga district for a planned rally, according to local news reports. More than 25 people were killed and 846 people arrested in two days of clashes that underscored political tensions between the government and the kingdom, according to official figures reported in the press.[more]

Press freedom deteriorated in the first full year of Rupiah Banda’s presidency. Tensions mounted between Banda’s government and the leading independent daily The Post. Politicized criminal charges were leveled at Post staff members concerning the circulation of photos that Banda labeled “obscene” but others saw as a shocking look at a government health-care problem. Ruling party supporters were tied to a series of attacks against The Post and other journalists.[more]

In a measure of the deplorable state of press freedom in Zimbabwe, a year marked by harassment and obstruction was considered a small step forward. “Journalists continue to be followed, detained, and abducted; phones and e-mail messages are intercepted; the output of news from government reminds one of Radio Moscow during the Soviet era,” Geoff Hill, exiled Zimbabwean journalist and author, told CPJ.[more]

High numbers of local journalists have fled several African countries in recent years after being assaulted, threatened, or imprisoned, leaving a deep void in professional reporting. The starkest examples are in the Horn of Africa nations of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, where dozens of journalists have been forced into exile. Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and the Gambia have also lost large segments of the local press corps in the face of intimidation and violence.[more]

We are writing to draw your attention to conditions that undermine press freedom as guaranteed in Article 29 of the Ethiopian Constitution.[more]

African journalists faced a vast array of violations of their right to press freedom and freedom of expression in 2009. These included intimidation, harassment, threats, attacks, beatings, illegal detentions, arrests and imprisonment. Their equipment was confiscated and destroyed; many were forced to flee their home countries or stop reporting. Media houses were censored and sometimes shut down; their broadcast signals were jammed and copies of their publications were seized. Newspapers, broadcasters and journalists alike faced spurious lawsuits. Many reporters were slapped with criminal charges, often for alleged defamation and sedition, and very often for covering corruption or the activities of security forces. [more]

The text of a speech by Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo to the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF), Cape Town: It is a privilege and an honour to have been asked to address members of the press, in particular, those affiliated with such a distinguished organisation as SANEF. The American founding father Thomas Jefferson famously quipped, “If it were left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”[more]

“The man who lacks sense enough to despise public opinion expressed in gossip will never do anything great” - this is from Hegel's Philosophy of Right (1822). It's no secret that at CommGAP, we're all big advocates for public opinion, nevertheless we need to be aware of some of the problems that public opinion poses in its role as political factor.[more]

The Mozambican police have being harassing reporters who visit Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the country’s main opposition party, Renamo, at his residence in the northern city of Nampula, the independent daily “O Pais” reported on 10 February 2010.[more]

One of the findings on a study done by MISA-Mozambique on behalf of UNESCO on the landscape of media development in Mozambique is that Mozambique has a political and legal framework that is generally favorable to freedom of expression, and to pluralism and diversity in the media, although constraints still persist in the practical application of media-friendly laws and policies. The findings were launched at a conference on 10 February 2010 in Maputo.[more]

GOVERNMENT will table the Freedom of Information Bill-immediately after parliament resumes its sitting this month. Information and Broadcasting Services Minister RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA says government has already reached an advanced stage in pushing for legislation of the Act.[more]

Johannesburg, (PlusNews) - A sexy new South African television drama is set to show people that love, life and the risk of HIV does not stop after they turn 30. [more]

Government steps up stranglehold on media market

News in the week that government was forging ahead with plans to launch a second state television channel while making no effort to license private broadcasters provided more worrying evidence of the authorities’ disdain for the media reforms they agreed to under the Global Political Agreement (GPA).