African Unification Front
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OVERVIEW ON JOURNALISM IN THE AFRICAN UNION
PUTTING AN END TO MEDIA NEOCOLONIALISM
There are many journalist forums in the African Union, all of which share similar concerns about press freedom. They include such organizations as the Swaziland National Association of Journalists, the South African National Editors Forum (fomerly led by Thami Mazwai), Sanef (an amalgamation of the Black Editors Forum and Conference of Editors), and the Uganda Journalist Association that was founded by the late James Namakajjo (once editor of the defunct South magazine).
These forums continue to play a critical role in the politics and culture of Africa. Across the African Union, their contributions are celebrated or acknowledged at various events such as Black Wednesday. Black Wednesday commemorates the banning of 17 black consciousness organisations and three newspapers, The World, The Weekend World, and the Christian Institute's Pro Veritate.
Media workers in the African Union continue to face restrictions and censureship mechanisms such as government controlled media councils, and unfair legisltive bills and regulations. In many parts of the AU practising journalists still require government accreditation, mandatory membership in government controlled unions, and arbitrary age and education restrictions. In Swaziland only nationals above the age of 18 who have passed matric or hold a qualification in journalism can be accredited. Failure to comply with this Swazi directive invites a fine of R15 000 for individual journalists and R100 000 for media houses.
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