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

Kagiso Media reveals African growth ambitions

[Artwell Dlamini] Kagiso Media, whose operations are largely based in SA, said on Tuesday (22 February 2011) that it was looking for growth opportunities in Africa. 23 Feb 2011 06:56

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

AdReview... SA, SADC media facts 2010

In partnership with OMD, Tony Koenderman's AdReview is designed to provide expert and accurate media information covering South Africa and the SADC. The review covers Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 19 Jul 2010 06:57

Tanzanian newspapers accused of defamatory reports

On 13 February 2009, the Tanzanian minister of information, sports and culture ordered three newspapers to provide reasons why they published what he calls "defamatory" news reports. The newspapers in question are Taifa Letu, "Sema Usikize and Taifa Tanzania. 19 Feb 2009 10:16

African nations agree to $1 billion Indian satellite project

A critical mass of countries are signing on to a plan for India to invest $1 billion in the Pan-African e-Network satellite project, a joint initiative with the Africa Union aimed at developing the region's information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure. 30 Nov 2007 12:04

Four young Kenyans become mobile reporters

“This is a great opportunity to promote responsive journalism and democracy in Kenya,” says Munene Kilongi. He is standing in a street in Nairobi while he is sending his report on the elections in Kenya from his mobile phone. 22 Nov 2007 06:56

Kenyans welcome second full colour daily newspaper

[Carole Kimutai] It is barely six months since the first full colour newspaper Nairobi Star hit the news stands. Now Kenyan readers are welcoming yet another full colour newspaper - The Daily Metro. The first edition rolled off the press last week Wednesday, 26 September 2007. 2 Oct 2007 05:51