News censorship never ends well for governments, says CNN exec

[Herman Manson: @marklives] Tony Maddox, the executive vice president and MD of CNN International, is responsible for CNN's international news and information portfolio. Maddox, who is based at CNN's Atlanta headquarters, is responsible for five CNN services in English; CNN en Español; CNN-IBN, CNN Turk and CNN Chile. [video] 9 Jan 2012 11:15

M&G falls foul of NPA Act; a dark portend of things to come

[Theresa Mallinson] This Friday's Mail & Guardian features a greatly redacted version of its lead story about a Scorpions' investigation of Mac Maharaj, after his lawyers alerted the paper to the fact that publication would contravene the NPA Act. The M&G is now seeking the director of public prosecution's permission to publish the story. 18 Nov 2011 09:47

Ruth First lecture: Hammerl remembered, Motlanthe warns against censorship

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] Fourteen war images of the late photographer Anton Hammerl stood idle - powerful and melancholic - at the entrance of Wits University Great Hall last night, Wednesday 17 August 2011, reminding everyone that the author - just like Ruth First, the woman they came to honour - fought until the end to expose abuse of power, repression, suffering and injustice. 18 Aug 2011 10:41

Attacks on the Press 2010: Africa analysis

[Mohamed Keita] Across the continent, the emergence of in-depth reporting and the absence of effective access-to-information laws have set a collision course in which public officials, intent on shielding their activities, are moving aggressively to unmask confidential sources, criminalise the possession of government documents, and retaliate against probing journalists. 15 Feb 2011 09:04

SANEF condemns Egyptian media censorship

The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) has condemned Egypt's shutdown of Middle Eastern broadcaster, Al-Jazeera's operations in Cairo and the harassment of its journalists by detaining and then releasing them. SANEF is calling on Egyptian leaders to restore electronic communication and to remove the ban on Al-Jazeera immediately. 2 Feb 2011 07:32

Wits hosts conference on elections, media in Africa

The Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER) and the Department of Political Studies at Wits will be hosting a two-day conference this week on Recent Elections and the Media in Africa, 11-12 October 2010. The aim is to encourage debate across the media (print, electronic media, radio and TV), as well as create a wider knowledge among scholars and the general public on how the media works and how it affects daily lives. 11 Oct 2010 06:30

ANC vilifies journos in attempt to quash free speech

[Herman Manson: @marklives] The ANC has made public its plans for the future of South African media in a discussion paper prepared for the ANC National General Council 2010, to be held 20 - 24 September in Durban. The discussion paper makes it quite clear how the ANC views the media - it unashamedly vilifies journalists as dishonest scoundrels - and rather disconcertingly notes the success of the apartheid regime in staying in power through censorship and media control. 3 Aug 2010 09:28

Sunday's Media@SAfm show: Madiba and the media

[Ashraf Garda: @ashrafgarda1] Does Mandela need help? Does his reputation need protecting? That in essence was what my vote-line was about on the Sunday Media@SAfm show that coincided with International Nelson Mandela Day, 18 July 2010. 20 Jul 2010 12:33