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]

(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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

(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]

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]

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]