PRESS freedom still remains a pipe dream for most journalists across the world as they still face persecution by both their governments and cartels scared of having their misdeeds exposed.
BY PHYLLIS MBANJE
This came up during the Press Freedom Round Table discussions at the just ended 69th World News Media Congress and 24th Editors’ Forum in Durban, South Africa.
Journalists and editors and those sympathetic to the cause of Press freedom expressed grave concern over intimidation from politicians who even use social media as a tool for harassment.
Many recounted their stories of harassment by their respective governments and called for urgent action in bringing to book these perpetrators.
Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, whose news website, Rappler, released the famed transcript of United States President Donald Trump’s telephone conversation with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, said she was now facing a possible death sentence over the leak.
“There is so much gagging of the media, so many threats every day,” Ressa said, adding that a social media onslaught had also been launched against her following the leaked transcript which had drawn mixed feelings from the public.
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Turkish journalist Turkmen Terzi said he had been unable to visit his parents in two years after he was labelled a terrorist by his government.
“The law keeps getting tougher on the media. But we still make noise and do our work with those laws,” Carol Beyanga, of the Daily Monitor in Uganda, said.
Her country has a tendency of crafting a new law every year to restrict journalists.
Zimbabwe also came under the spotlight over its draconian media laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act that inhibit media freedom.
The State of the Media Report 2016 by the Media Institute for Southern Africa-Zimbabwe chapter released in March noted that last year alone at least 23 journalists were harassed while in the line of duty.
“A total of 23 journalists . . . were unlawfully arrested or detained in 2016 compared to 10 cases recorded in 2015,” the report said.
“A total of 12 were assaulted by the police and supporters of Zanu PF while conducting their lawful professional duties of covering events such as . . . protests and demonstrations, as they unfolded.”
