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Media Freedom in Africa 28.04.2016

25th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration

Windhoek declaration - 25 years on

Pressing for Press freedom

The principles of the Windhoek Declaration are still relevant 25 years after their adoption. As authorities in Africa continue to undermine media freedom, it's important to strengthen a free press for the coming years.

public broadcasting

The rise and fall of SABC

After the fall of apartheid, South Africa's national broadcaster was transformed into a vibrant source of independent information. But things have since changed.

Media diversity

Diverse voices fail to reach Africa's poor

When you have to choose between buying food for your family and purchasing a newspaper, the choice is simple.

Banner des Projekts WHK25 von DW Akademie & Misa

Windhoek Declaration 29.04.2016

media reform

The failed reform of public broadcasters in Africa

The transformation of state broadcasters into public broadcasters as envisaged by the African Charter on Broadcasting has failed. Why is that and what can be done about it?

Media trends

Future of news lies with data, drones and phones

From turning news into a dialogue to saving lives thanks to better health statistics, here's a look at how new technologies are transforming news and information use in Africa.

print

A group of Zimbabweans read a local newspaper

Don't write off newspapers in Africa

After four decades in print, Gwen Lister says she's often seen as a dinosaur. Here's why the publisher of "The Namibian" believes print is still relevant in Africa – even in the face of a digital tsunami.

freedom of expression

Turning resolutions into reality

Freedom of expression and access to information are often associated with reporters but they are for everyone. It takes strong commitment to ensure they become reality, not just words on paper says Faith Pansy Tlakula.

windhoek declaration

Declaration still packs a punch for a free press

All too often, declarations remain pieces of paper filed away and forgotten. But the 1991 Windhoek Declaration is different and its impact is still being felt today.

media law

Time to break with colonial legal shackles

Free media in Africa faces many challenges. These include colonial-era laws that restrict free thought and expression and are holding the continent back.

The 1991 Windhoek Declaration is a historic call for media freedom by African journalists. In this dossier, researchers, journalists and others review progress made over the past 25 years. WHK25 is a joint project between the Media Institute of Southern Africa and DW Akademie.

journalist safety

Security officers investigate the scene of a car bomb

Getting away with murder

Journalism in Africa isn't for the faint of heart with media workers regularly being harassed, beaten, illegally jailed or even killed. Most of these crimes have gone unpunished.

Journalist Safety

The plan to make Africa safe for journalism

The killing of journalists around the world remains an all too common problem and Africa has not been immune. The UN endorsed a Plan of Action to make the practice of journalism safer.

The Media We Want

Grace Timanywa – student in Mukono, Uganda

"I expect the Ugandan media to deliver accurate news and the latest information. I also expect the Ugandan media to interview our leaders so that we can get to know their views on what is happening in the country. I would like to see some of the newspapers deliver more accurate news. Some have facts, yes, but they add in more soup to the news. It’s better to just keep it simple."
The Media We Want

Abdullah Sesay – child's rights advocate and student in Monrovia, Liberia

"I would like our media to be more proactive, to be independent in their reporting and to get to the people and get more information, especially information that is genuine, on national development or national security."
The Media We Want

Beatrice Mwape – intern at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation in Blantyre

"I want to see a media that is free, objective and has access to information. Whatever the media writes, it should bring development, hope and a change to our nation. I think things really have to change so that people can be experts, people can know the truth and the world can change."
The Media We Want

Prince Bongani Chikwebo – graduate from the University of Malawi, Blantyre

"I would like to see a media that it is free and objective, not being influenced by any social groupings or projections of Western or Eastern media, just projecting what represents society in Malawi as a whole."
The Media We Want

Pwanidi Francis – student in Adamawa State, Nigeria

"I expect the media to be very objective. They can meet this expectation if they are independent and without bias. They can also fail in meeting this objective if they choose to dance to the tune of government."
The Media We Want

Anthony Kanuma – sound engineer in Kampala, Uganda

"I expect the Ugandan media to always tell the correct news, be on time and ensure that information is delivered to the public accurately. There are certain stories, certain news clips that may not be suitable for the younger audience so I would like to see them sort of censor those things especially for the younger viewers so that they may not be affected."
The Media We Want

Nora Wreh – student in Monrovia, Liberia

"I expect the media in my country to give me factual information. Some of our media practitioners are not meeting the expectation of the Liberian people. Some of them are biased. They are being carried away or bought by somebody or somebody is pushing them around, telling them what to do. The media must stand firm: they must go out, seek information no matter where it is hidden."
The Media We Want

Mosupatsila Nare – law studies graduate in Gwanda, Zimbabwe

"I expect the media to be independent from any external influences, be they political, business or financial. I expect them to be fair and present issues as they are. Not to be biased, based on any political party influence or anything. There is a great deal of improvement that is needed in the Zimbabwean media. I think as citizens we deserve to know what the issues are, with no bias."
The Media We Want

Shaloam Strooper – student in Nairobi, Kenya

"I expect from the media in Kenya that at any given time, at any given place, whenever something happens I should be able to get that information. I should be able to know what is happening in my country. Sometimes you may be on Twitter or Facebook and you see photos of things happening that the news hasn’t yet reported. The media should be faster than social networks."
The Media We Want

Thandeka Gamede – casting agency coordinator in Soweto township, Johannesburg, South Africa

"My expectation of media is a non-political treatment, reporting without fear or favor, more reporting on issues around gays and lesbians, making the public aware of their rights and responsibility. Do I think that the media is meeting my expectations? No, I don’t think so because politically it’s always about the ruling party. I would like to see more balance."
The Media We Want

Itumeleng Ditshego – software development student in Johannesburg, South Africa

"The type of media I would like to see in South Africa is just basically well-balanced media and well-researched stories. I would like to see less speculation. And I would also like the media to showcase what we as youth are doing to push our country forward."
The Media We Want

Irvine Takavada – activist in Harare, Zimbabwe

"I expect the Zimbabwean media to be transparent in their coverage, to be explicit and not to be manipulated. They are failing to meet our expectations because you find that when journalists cover a story, at times they are manipulated by businessmen or politicians or they cover it with a slant or cover it for money. I would like to see the Zimbabwean media change."
The Media We Want

Edward Maina – student in Nairobi, Kenya

"The media in Kenya should provide genuine, first-hand information, not just rely on information given by local people. It should also have research that will help to bring out information. During the holidays when most schools are closed, the media could concentrate on the children who need to be educated and give information that will help them with problems we are encountering nowadays."