MEDIA FREEDOM - The African Mirror

Nov

24

2020

40 years of shaping the meaning of media development

MEDIA FREEDOM

FROM buying and upgrading technical equipment to fixing the institutions and the ecosystem of news, the approach to media development has changed over the past 40 years. With the advent of new technologies, the role of media in achieving sustainable development has new frontiers. Yet with the changes, serious threats to media sustainability have also come along. How is UNESCO, through the role of its unique media development programme, adapting to the new times and preparing for the future? Q&A with Guy Berger and Rosa Gonzalez, secretary and deputy secretary of the IPDC Guy Berger 1. For anyone not familiar…

Nov

21

2020

By The African Mirror

Zimbabwe court frees journalist charged with obstructing justice

MEDIA FREEDOM

ZIMBABWEAN journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin'ono was freed on bail on Friday after being arrested two weeks ago on charges of obstructing justice. Chin'ono's arrest and that of dozens of activists in the last four months has led to accusations that President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government was persecuting opponents, a charge the authorities deny. Chin'ono, who has criticised the government on social media, was first arrested in July on charges of inciting violent anti-government protests. He denies the separate charges and says the government is persecuting him for exposing corruption. High Court Judge Tawanda Chitapi found on Friday that a…

Nov

21

2020

By The African Mirror

Zimbabwe issues six new TV licences, including to defence ministry

MEDIA FREEDOM

ZIMBABWE has issued six new free-to-air TV licences, including to a company owned by the defence ministry, the broadcasting authority has announced after Zimbabweans called for independent broadcasters. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, which is solely owned by the government, has been the only broadcaster in the southern African nation since it gained independence from Britain in 1980. Zimbabweans have long called for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to license independent broadcasters, and accuse state-owned media of biased coverage in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's ruling ZANU-PF party. BAZ Chairman Charles Sibanda said in a statement that among those issued…

Nov

20

2020

By The African Mirror

South African broadcaster SABC delays job cuts plan by a week

MEDIA FREEDOM

THE South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is delaying a plan to lay off 600 employees by a week, following protests by some of its presenters and journalists, who have threatened a radio and TV blackout. The SABC is among a clutch of heavily indebted state-owned firms that President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to wean off public funding. But this week the broadcaster's board said it needed at least 1 billion rand ($65 million) per annum to keep operations going, and that its plan to cut costs by lowering headcount was not yet working. "The Board of the SABC would like…

Nov

19

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigeria should sanction CNN for report on shooting of protesters – minister

MEDIA FREEDOM

FELIX ONUAH NIGERIA should sanction CNN for its report that the country's military shot and killed protesters demonstrating against police brutality, a minister has said. Nigeria Information Minister Lai Mohammed. Picture: Flickr The U.S. broadcaster used "unverified and possibly doctored videos" and "information from questionable sources" in the report, information minister Lai Mohammed told a news conference in Abuja. When asked, Mohammed did not specify how the government might sanction CNN. He said he believes it has internal systems for dealing with erring staff, and that Nigerian authorities would also do what was necessary. CNN did not immediately respond to…

Nov

18

2020

By The African Mirror

Turmoil at one of Africa’s largest broadcaster amid retrenchments

MEDIA FREEDOM

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), one of Africa’s biggest broadcasters, is pressing ahead with retrenchments which are expected to lead to over 450 media workers losing their jobs. The retrenchments have led to protest action by SABC employees and a disruption of the public broadcaster's service. Workers have also threatened a full blown strike which could lead to a total black out of TV and radio services on which millions of South Africans depend. On Tuesday, member of the SABC newsroom head a heated meeting with their boss - head of news Pathiswa Magopeni - who…

Oct

28

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigerian considers social media regulation in wake of deadly shooting

MEDIA FREEDOM

NIGERIA’S information minister said "some form of regulation" could be imposed on social media just a week after protesters spread images and videos of a deadly shooting using Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Images, video and an Instagram live feed from a popular DJ spread news of shootings in Lagos on October 20, when witnesses and rights groups said the military fired on peaceful protesters. The protesters had been demonstrating for nearly two weeks to demand an end to police brutality. The army denied its soldiers were there. Social media helped spread word of the shootings worldwide, and international celebrities from…

Oct

22

2020

By The African Mirror

Burundi: 65 organizations call for immediate release of Iwacu journalists

MEDIA FREEDOM

ON the first anniversary of their arrest, 65 organizations call for the immediate and unconditional release of the Iwacu journalists Agnès Ndirubusa, Christine Kamikazi, Egide Harerimana and Térence Mpozenzi who were convicted on charges against state security for simply doing their job. Their continued detention on baseless charges is a stark reminder that, despite a recent change in leadership, the Burundian government has little tolerance for independent journalism and free speech, the organizations said. On 22 October 2019, the four journalists were arrested along with their driver Adolphe Masabarakiza as they went to report on clashes between the security forces and an…

Dec

31

2020

By The African Mirror

Morocco arrests dissident, investigates alleged money laundering

MEDIA FREEDOM

A Moroccan judge has ordered a prominent writer and rights activist to be held in custody pending an investigation into money-laundering allegations, in a case that media freedom activists describe as harassment. Maati Monjib, a university historian who writes frequent newspaper editorials, has denied the accusations. His arrest at a restaurant on Tuesday followed the jailing or detention of several other dissident journalists in recent months. The prosecutor's office said in October it was investigating Monjib on suspicion of money laundering. Monjib has often denied wrongdoing in posts on his Facebook account and said he had been summoned several times…

Dec

28

2020

By The African Mirror

Three Ugandan journalists injured during police scuffle with Bobi Wine supporters

MEDIA FREEDOM

UGANDAN police said three local journalists were hospitalised on Sunday after sustaining injuries when officers used teargas to disperse supporters of presidential candidate and pop star Bobi Wine. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has emerged as the strongest challenger against President Yoweri Museveni, 76, in the country's presidential election due on January 14. He said one of those injured was in a "critical condition". Police spokesman Fred Enanga said supporters of Wine had gathered on Sunday in Masaka, 125 km southwest of the capital Kampala. Wine had attended a church service in the town, according to a tweet…