Morocco: Journalist barred from his office

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has issued a statement in which it condemns what it terms the "arbitrary and degrading expulsion" of journalist Radwan Hifani from his office at the Assabah newspaper on 21 December 2011, due to his public and continuing solidarity with Rachid Nini, the imprisoned editor-in-chief of el-Masaa newspaper. 30 Dec 2011 06:33

African people disillusioned with leadership - Moeletsi Mbeki

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] "African people - like me - are completely disillusioned with the performance of their leaders because of what they have done and what they are doing, and for me these people should not be called leaders, but rather the elite," Moeletsi Mbeki, brother of former South African president Thabo Mbeki and chairman of the SA Institute of International Affairs, said, speaking at the CNN-MultiChoice media forum currently taking place in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on Friday, 24 June 2011. 24 Jun 2011 11:56

Anton Hammerl believed dead; much sorrow, anger

South African photographer Anton Hammerl, who'd been missing in Libya since 5 April 2011, is presumed dead. According to eyewitnesses, Hammerl was shot on that day by Gaddafi's forces in an extremely remote location in the Libyan desert and his injuries were such that he could not have survived without medical attention. 20 May 2011 09:29

Press freedom celebrations tempered with concerns

Yesterday, Tuesday, 3 May 2011, was the 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, begun in Namibia as the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of principles calling for a free, independent and pluralistic media throughout the world. Celebrations around the world were tempered with concerns about the erosion of press freedom and in South Africa, SANEF called on Government to review its proposed legislations that has seen SA downgrade from 'free press' to 'partly free'. 4 May 2011 09:13

Decline in press freedom experienced in key countries - report

WASHINGTON: The number of people worldwide with access to free and independent media declined to its lowest level in over a decade, according a Freedom House study released yesterday, 2 May 2011. The report, Freedom of the Press 2011: A global survey of media independence, found that a number of key countries experienced significant declines, producing a global landscape in which only one in six people live in countries with a press that is designated Free. 3 May 2011 14:00

Concern mounts over missing SA journo as govt scrambles to assist

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] As concern mounts over the fate of Anton Hammerl, a South African photographer missing in Libya alongside two US journalists and one Spanish photographer, the Presidency said yesterday, Wednesday, 20 April 2011, that President Jacob Zuma has been briefed on the attempts made by the SA mission in Libya to locate Hammerl. Reports from Washington DC also suggest that the White House is very concerned about their well-being and it is trying hard to assist them in any way it can. 21 Apr 2011 11:10

Moroccan journalist wins Gebran Tueni Prize

BEIRUT, LEBANON: Aboubakr Jamaï, the co-founder and former managing director of the weekly newspaper Le Journal Hebdomadaire and a pioneer of the independent press in Morocco, has been presented the 2010 Gebran Tueni Award in a ceremony in Beirut, Lebanon. 14 Apr 2011 11:15

WAN-IFRA appoints new president, has conference upholding print

Jacob Mathew was elected on Friday, 8 April 2011, as the president of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) by its general assembly of members, held during the its board meeting in Dublin, Ireland and on 6-7 April the association's Printing Summit in Mainz, Germany, reaffirmed print's vital role today and in the future. 11 Apr 2011 09:45

WAN-IFRA supports new resolution in MENA

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has called on governments across the Middle East and North Africa to seize a historic opportunity "to recognise and support the essential role a free and independent press must play in the democratisation process." 11 Apr 2011 06:40

African politicians ban media to avoid criticism - Henry Maina

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The fundamental reason that many African governments ban and harass the media has more to do with personal connotations than other issues, Kenya's Henry Maina, director of Article 19 Eastern Africa, told delegates at the two-day Regulations and Rights media conference last week in Johannesburg. 16 Mar 2011 10:22

Dario Milo and media law: is legal sky a limit for journalists?

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] There is some substantiated regulation of what the media can do and what it cannot do, but the balance must be struck between what the law has prescribed and freedom of expression, Prof Dario Milo, Wits University media law visiting professor and Webber & Wentzel partner, said last week in Johannesburg at the two-day Regulations and Rights media conference. 15 Mar 2011 14:01

Judging panel announced for 2011 Diageo Awards

LONDON: The panel of judges has been announced for the eighth Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards set to take place on 30 June 2011. The annual awards aims to encourage more prolific reporting of economic opportunities in Africa and to celebrate excellence in business journalism. 15 Mar 2011 10:37

What to do with critical media: to regulate or not to regulate?

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] As governments across the African continent come under increasing pressure from critical media, 'vulture' ruling parties believe the only way to deal with this 'surrogate opposition' is to regulate it through statutory mechanisms that will eventually dent its wayward reporting. But some African voices of reason, such as Zambia's Fred M'membe, argue that the restriction of good media never produces good media. 14 Mar 2011 10:50

2011 PAMRO meeting, media research conference set for Senegal

The 13th PAMRO meeting and All Africa Media Research Conference will take place from 21-24 August 2011 in Dakar, Senegal at the Le Méridien President Hotel. Updates on media audience research activities from countries from all parts of Africa will be provided. 14 Mar 2011 08:23