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

African media is surrogate opposition - Prof Tawana Kupe

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Due to the lack of a strong and united political opposition, the media in Africa, at least those that are critical of government policies, becomes a powerful force called a surrogate opposition, Prof Tawana Kupe, dean of faculty of humanities at Wits University, said this week in Johannesburg. 11 Mar 2011 10:29

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

MTG launches pay-TV channels in Africa

The Modern Times Group (MTG), an international entertainment broadcasting group, on Monday, 28 February 2011, launched four pay-TV channels in Africa. Viasat History, Viasat Nature, Viasat Explorer and Viasat Crime are initially available to satellite pay-TV subscribers in Nigeria and cable pay-TV subscribers in Kenya. 2 Mar 2011 08:44

U2360° broadcast live from Cape Town

U2's Cape Town concert scheduled for today, Friday 18 February 2011, will be broadcast live on Highveld and KFM in South Africa, alongside a live stream on DStv.com, throughout Africa. 18 Feb 2011 08:18

MTV launches pro-democracy campaign in Nigeria

LAGOS: MTV has launched a pro-democracy campaign in Africa ahead of the upcoming Nigerian elections. Starting January 2011, the network's global "Choose or Lose" voter mobilisation campaign aims to encourage and empower young Nigerians to exercise their right to vote. 24 Jan 2011 11:29

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

Nigeria: Maltina Dance All 4 starts airing

LAGOS: Reality TV show, Maltina Dance All 4 began broadcasting on TV stations across Nigeria and beyond on Sunday, 5 September 2010. It will continue on a daily basis until the grand finale which will be held on 25 September. The show is aired on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Africa Independent Television (AIT), and Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) amongst a host of other stations in Nigeria. 6 Sep 2010 07:38

My TV, strong contender in pay-tv market

[Russell Southwood] With the launch of On Digital Media's TopTV days away, competition in the pay-TV market in South Africa is set to become more intense as it takes on DStv in its largest market. But below the radar there are several regional challengers squaring up to them in key sub-Saharan markets. My TV has enough subscribers in Nigeria to lay claim to being a contender. 30 Apr 2010 10:51

DStv Ad Sales expands Nigerian team

DStv Ad Sales, the Africa division of Oracle Airtime Sales has announced two new appointments in Nigeria. DStv Ad Sales, is active in 46 sub-Saharan Africa countries, including Seychelles and Mauritius. 28 Apr 2010 07:11