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 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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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]

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.

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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.

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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.

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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]