Journos train in science and health reporting

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Media practitioners in Malawi underwent a science and health reporting workshop in Blantyre over the weekend, as part of an initiative by Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW), to equip journalists to establish health as a regular journalism beat. 23 May 2012 09:55

Govt to repeal oppressive media law

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] President Joyce Banda announced on Friday, May 18 2012, that her government will repeal a piece of legislation that was meant to oppress the media which was being championed by the late president Bingu wa Mutharika. 21 May 2012 12:06

Access to quality information needed

Media freedom is undermined by a lack of information infrastructure as well as skills and literacy to access and critically evaluate information. The ability to access vital information, especially government information, makes it difficult for media practitioners and the general public to accurately report on issues that concern them. 21 May 2012 09:39

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 finalists announced

The finalists in the 17th CNN MultiChoice African Journalist competition were announced on 18 May 2012, by Ferial Haffajee, chair of the independent judging panel. This year the competition received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa. 18 May 2012 11:49

New bill 'will close down the press'

The Swaziland Government has been accused of trying to close down the press with the publication of a new bill to bar public servants from disclosing any information about their work that relates to 'public policy'. 17 May 2012 11:39

Media bills in final stages of approval

[Eric Didier Karinganire] Senators in their plenary session last Thursday [10 May 2012] reviewed media bills including the draft law regulating media, draft law on access to information and another one regarding the responsibilities, functioning and organisation of the Media High Council (MHC). 15 May 2012 14:11

Nigeria journalists plan govt boycott over unrest

JOS, NIGERIA: Journalists in a restive state in central Nigeria said on Monday [14 May 2012] they would halt coverage of government activities in protest at the failure of the authorities to stop years of deadly violence. 15 May 2012 11:28

BNL and ZBS win big at 2012 MISA Awards

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) and Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) triumphed over all other media institutions in Malawi to emerge as the Best Print and Electronic Media House of the Year respectively at the 2012 MISA-Malawi Annual Media Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony marking this year's World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) commemoration in Lilongwe on Saturday, 5 May 2012. 8 May 2012 13:24

Heritage named best newspaper again

The Independent Authoritative Heritage Newspaper has been named best Newspaper for the Year 2011/2012 by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) during its annual awards program. PUL is the umbrella organisation of journalists in the country. The PUL 2011/2012 Awards Program was held Friday, 4 May 2012 at the Samuel Kanyan Doe (SKD) Sports Complex in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. 8 May 2012 10:41

Daily abuses suffered by journalists

Following World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, Reporters Without Borders takes a look at the breaches of freedom of news and information in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2012, turning the spotlight on one of the most dangerous countries in Africa for journalists. For the first time, it has included the Islamist militia Boko Haram in its latest list of Predators of Freedom of Information. 8 May 2012 10:18

2012 PAMRO Conference calls for papers

The 14th meeting of PAMRO and All Africa Media Research Conference, set to take place at Speke Resort & Convention Centre in Uganda from 26-29 August 2012, is calling for presentation submissions for the conference in line with the theme "From Local to Global: Media Research in a Developing World". 7 May 2012 11:43

MISA-Malawi wants repeal of media laws

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] The Malawi chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) has asked government to consider repealing all laws that are inconsistent with the constitution and those considered as an insult to the media fraternity in Malawi. 4 May 2012 13:20

World Press Freedom Day: How technology impacts journalism in Kenya

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] The world has dedicated one day in a year to scribes 3rd May. This is World Press Freedom Day. According to the United Nations, it is a day that "celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession". 4 May 2012 11:53

Make a free press 'The Headline for Democratic Transition'

PARIS, FRANCE / DARMSTADT, GERMANY: "A free press is an essential cornerstone of any country based on democracy." So says Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, in her exclusive interview with the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), to mark 3 May, World Press Freedom Day. 3 May 2012 13:36