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Journalists call for free and fair coverage of Zimbabwe poll
30/3/05: Zimbabweans once again go to the polls to chose their parliamentary representatives in an environment that has largely been restrictive to the media, both local and international. The Association of Zimbabwe Journalists in the UK, a group of former journalists, editors and photographers from Zimbabwe, appeals to the Zimbabwe government to protect and allow accredited journalists to freely cover the general election scheduled for March 31 without fear or favour.
The Association challenges all parties taking part in the election, mainly the ruling Zanu PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to make life easier for both local and foreign journalists covering the election by being readily accessible as the world anxiously await news of the poll. The security of journalists covering the election is also of paramount importance, especially at a time when oppressive media laws have recently been tightened, further curtailing media freedoms.
"If journalists can zoom their cameras and carry notebooks in a war zone why can't they do the same in an election process," said Forward Maisokwadzo, Association Chair, challenging the authorities to protect and allow journalists to report events as they happen.
"Journalists who still have an appetite and energy to cover the Zimbabwe story should be allowed to carry their work without being harassed, intimidated or arrested."
The Association also appeals to all journalists especially foreign reporters who want to cover the election to accredit themselves with the responsible authorities in Zimbabwe to limit chances of being denied entry.
"We are also calling for responsible and truthful reporting from all the journalists covering the election as we look up to them to tell the world about what is really going on in Zimbabwe," Association Secretary, Sandra Nyaira, said.
Recent and on-going attacks on journalists and lack of a free Press are a great concern to the Association, which is calling on the next government to repeal oppressive media laws like the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Such laws have had a great impact in making Zimbabwe one of the worst places in which one can
work as a journalist.
Contact Details
Forward Maisokwadzo - forwardm17@yahoo.co.uk
079 8425 2611
Sandra Nyaira Sandra_nyaira@yahoo.co.uk
079 605 19958
Last modified: Wednesday, March 30, 2005
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World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
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DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
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Previous stories
Safety Of Journalists
Journalism: a deadly business
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