Media freedom, self-regulation: the Ghanaian experience

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Until 1992, journalists and editors in Ghana, and the independent media in general, have suffered a lot at the hands of undemocratic regimes, which cracked down on critical reporting and imposed strict restrictions limiting media freedom. As a new, liberal constitution was being written in 1992, media activists came out guns blazing, demanding that media suffering end and reporting become free. [view twitterfall] 10 Mar 2011 10:06

Applications invited for UN journalism fellowships

[Carole Kimutai] The Dag Hammarskjöld Scholarship Fund for Journalists is now accepting applications from professional journalists from developing countries for its 2011 Fellowship Program. The application deadline is 6 April 2011. 10 Mar 2011 08:19

African media and the self-regulation dilemma

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] As the independent media in Africa is engaged in a fierce battle against repressive and not-so-democratic governments keen to sweep their corrupt wrongdoings under the carpet, the issue of self-regulation has become almost like a daily bread in many parts of the continent. [view twitterfall] 10 Mar 2011 08:07

Right of access to information hampered by govts - media conference

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The right of access to information is being hampered in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, by government officials wary of journalists' desire to 'embarrass' them, and the state's 'insincere' reason of hiding behind the issue of national security. This emerged today, Wednesday, 9 March 2011, at the Regulations and Rights media conference at Wits University in Johannesburg. [view twitterfall] 9 Mar 2011 13:17

How youth editions are explaining the Middle East revolutions

PARIS, FRANCE / DARMSTADT, GERMANY: The unparalleled recent events in the Middle East have offered newspapers an opportunity to make use of their youth pages and supplements to explain a complex situation. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) have gathered some examples from around the world. 9 Mar 2011 06:02

Dubai Lynx Festival 2011 dates, new venue

DUBAI, UAE: The Dubai International Advertising Festival in 2011 will take place over two and a half days, 27- 29 March and the Dubai Lynx Awards, honouring North Africa and the Middle East's best work in advertising and creative communications, will be held on 30 March. Both events will take place for the first time at the Arabian coast resort, the Madinat Jumeirah, in Dubai. 12 Nov 2010 06:53

Moroccan authorities impeding Spanish journalists

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed its alarm by an increasing climate of hostility for Spanish journalists in Morocco, highlighted by official measures to prevent Spanish journalists from covering clashes in the Western Sahara. CPJ has called on authorities to allow journalists to do their work unimpeded. 10 Nov 2010 11:54

Morocco bans TV network

The Moroccan government has suspended all operations by the pan-Arab television network Al-Jazeera in the country for allegedly failing to follow the "rules of serious and responsible journalism". 3 Nov 2010 07:31

CPJ urges Morocco to improve press conditions

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists reiterated its call to King Mohammed VI to use his constitutional prerogatives to bring Moroccan legislation in line with international standards for freedom of expression. CPJ also urged the monarch to end the use of the judiciary and other government agencies to harass critical journalists. 27 Sep 2010 06:54

CNN enlists top journalism students for iReport initiative

ATLANTA, US: CNN has announced the launch of a new initiative for journalism students, called CNN iReport University, linked to iReport, the network's user-generated news community. 16 Sep 2010 10:35

Al-Jazeera bureau chief fined for "disseminating false information"

On 11 July 2008, a Rabat court fined Al-Jazeera's Rabat bureau chief, Hassan Rachidi, 50,000 dirhams (approx. 4,500 euros) under Article 42 of the press law because the Qatar-based satellite TV station wrongly reported in June that people were killed in clashes between police and protesters in the southern port city of Sidi Ifni. 14 Jul 2008 13:17

Attempt to restrict satellite broadcasting, electronic media continues

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has spoken out against the efforts of the ministerial council of Arab information ministers, held in the headquarters of the Arab League from 20 - 21 June 2008, to further restrict satellite television broadcasting. 27 Jun 2008 13:53

Africa's Olympic win

The African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) has concluded an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to acquire the free-to-air broadcast rights for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The broadcast rights relate to 41 sub-Saharan territories excluding South Africa. 26 May 2008 14:43

Al-Jazeera bureau forced to stop broadcasting Maghreb news programme

Moroccan authorities have decided to stop the pan-Arab satellite TV news station Al-Jazeera from broadcasting a daily news programme covering the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria) from its studios in the Moroccan capital Rabat. 9 May 2008 11:59