News
Is Africa’s investigative journalism on its deathbed?
Monday, 06 May 2013 06:46 Written by Lee Mwiti
It is no secret that governments and the media generally do not like each other. Not that they need to - many argue this antagonism is healthy and that the real problem would be if they actually took to each other. But with the year only four months in, African governments seem to be taking this antagonism a bit too far, as events would show. On April 17, Swaziland’s High Court sentenced the editor…
Financial & Economic Reporting Course
Thursday, 02 May 2013 11:49
This course is designed to help journalists in Africa to strengthen their reporting on financial and economic topics by developing their understanding and skills. "Learning by doing" is a core part of the programme, which includes practical exercises and live reporting. The course also focuses on improving coverage of national and international financial issues through detailed briefings, presentations by guest speakers and, where appropriate, a reporting visit to a financial institution. In-depth discussions will explore…
Making African Journalism Pay: Sustainable Democracy Depends On A Strong And Independent Media
Tuesday, 30 April 2013 08:58 Written by Yasiin Mugerwa
Much has been said about the international media’s reporting on Africa. Over the past years, broadcasters and journalists have been reproached for their afro-pessimism. On this very blog, last year, Richard Dowden addressed an open letter to John Humphreys, bemoaning that “British media’s news values did not include a mission to explain, to dig a little deeper.” Today, the ‘Africa Rising’ narrative is well anchored in journalism, to the point where some are questioning…
This article was first published in the Daily Monitor Mid last week, I was in Kabalagala when I came across copies of the China Daily newspaper being sold at a grocery store. I had known since last year that the state-owned China Daily was launching an Africa edition, printed in Nairobi, Kenya, but had not seen copies until last week. Since I developed a keen interest in this rising global economic power in 2008, I…
Voices in Danger
Monday, 29 April 2013 08:19
The UK’s Independent is launching a new section on its website as part of a campaign to highlight the plight of journalists across the world. The move is also in support of World Press Freedom this Friday, 3 May. The section, Voices in Danger, will focus on cases of harassment, attacks and intimidation against journalists. “We want to use the Independent’s global reach and online audience of millions to put these often forgotten reporters on…
RWI Accepting Applications for Media Training on Oil, Gas and Mining
Thursday, 18 April 2013 06:25
Revenue Watch is offering journalists in Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda an opportunity to expand and deepen their knowledge of the extractive industries through a six-month training program on covering the oil, gas and mineral sectors. Without informed and responsive media providing oversight of the revenues from these industries, governance weakens and corruption rises. Moreover, citizens lack the knowledge to hold their governments accountable and are denied the opportunity to benefit fully from their country's…
Govt briefs editors on Uganda’s oil sector, says refinery non-negotiable
Wednesday, 17 April 2013 07:15 Written by Bernard Tabaire
Uganda will develop a refinery to process 60,000 barrels of oil per day by 2020 contrary to recent media reports that it had settled for half that volume, a senior government official has said. “A refinery of 60,000 barrels should be developed unconditionally,“ Mr Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, told senior journalists in Kampala on April 16. The modular refinery the government is considering will,…
Mr Charles Odoobo Bichachi is back at the Daily Monitor newspaper as the Weekend Editions Managing Editor, nine years after he quit. He reported to work on Tuesday, 2 April 2013. “I was given an offer to come back and I took it up,” said Mr Bichachi, who has worked at Fountain Publishers for two stints lasting a combined six years. “I have been [engaged] in different aspects of the written word. I find that…
A correspondent for The Star daily newspaper was found dead Sunday morning in his house in the coastal city of Mombasa, local journalists told CPJ. A housemate found reporter Bernard Wesonga with blood on his nose and mouth at around 11:30 a.m., Star Deputy Editor Charles Kerich said. Local journalists said Wesonga, 27, was with friends at a local pub in Mombasa Saturday night, leaving around 10 p.m. Wesonga had told friends he recently…
Regulating the UK media sends the wrong signal to Africa
Monday, 25 March 2013 07:42
Erick Kabendera a freelance Tanzanian journalist and Haruna Kanaabi the executive secretary of Independent Media Council of Uganda shared their thoughts on the new press regulations in the UK in The Guardian publication. Last week, a deal was struck between the three main political parties on a new press regulation regime in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. The new regulatory regime which advocates for statutory regulation will replace the current system, under which…
Rwandan media under attack despite new press laws
Thursday, 21 March 2013 08:39 Written by Peter Noorlander for The Guardian
Rwandan president Paul Kagame has signed new press laws and a freedom of information act, intended to liberalise the media. Yet at the same time journalists are in prison for simply doing their jobs – holding the government to account. Two of these, Agnes Uwimana and Saidati Mukakibibi, were jailed for allegedly defaming Kagame and "endangering national security" after writing articles that criticised the government's agricultural policy, its handling of corrupt officials, and the justice…
Museveni ‘under pressure to ban’ Red Pepper
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 15:57 Written by Grace Natabaalo
President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that he is under pressure to ban local tabloids such as Red Pepper for exposing nudity. “We could have closed it but because of the pressure by western powers about the free press, we relaxed,” the president said. Mr Museveni was responding to a delegation of American human rights activists who expressed concern about the publication of pictures of gay and lesbian Ugandans in some tabloids. The Red…
