Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s interior minister said Wednesday that opposition leader Raila Odinga’s mock inauguration as “people’s president” was an effort to overthrow the government, with media outlets shut down for their complicity in the event. Odinga, 73, held a swearing-in ceremony in Nairobi on Tuesday with the …
Read More »Rights groups decry Kenya television shutdown
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Rights groups on Wednesday criticised the Kenya government’s move to block live coverage of a mock inauguration by the opposition as a “violation” of the public’s right to information. Three of the country’s main private television channels had their live feeds cut or blocked, while …
Read More »Ugandan tabloid Red Pepper returns to news stands
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | A notorious Ugandan tabloid made its much anticipated return to news stands Monday after a two-month shutdown prompted by a story that Kampala was allegedly plotting to topple President Paul Kagame of neighbouring Rwanda. Some vendors in the centre of the capital Kampala said the …
Read More »Ugandan tabloid Red Pepper apologises, back in print soon
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Uganda’s most popular tabloid paper will soon be back on newsstands after senior management promised to be more “professional” and were given a presidential pardon late Tuesday. Eight editors and directors of the Red Pepper were originally charged with treason and later with damaging the …
Read More »COMMENT: Making journalism great again
News outlets must set their own agendas, rather than wasting resources on pursuing someone else’s COMMENT | ALEXANDRA BORCHARDT | In the debate over the future of journalism, “fake news” has taken center stage, with storylines featuring a ranting American president, Russian communication “bots,” and betrayal and subterfuge competing for public …
Read More »Facebook to let users rank ‘trust’ in news sources
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Facebook announced Friday it will ask its two billion users to rank their trust in news sources, in its latest attempt to combat the spread of misinformation on the social network. The change comes as the online giant seeks to address charges that …
Read More »Twitter says Russia-linked accounts more widespread
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Twitter on Friday said the number of Russia-linked accounts firing off tweets evidently aimed at the US election in 2016 was more widespread than initially determined. The social media company found, and shuttered, an additional 1,062 accounts associated with the Internet Research Agency, …
Read More »US condemns arrests of AFP reporter, others at Sudan demo
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States condemned Sudan’s arbitrary detention of journalists Friday after an AFP reporter and two colleagues were arrested covering a street protest. Abdelmoneim Abu Idris Ali of Agence France-Presse and at least two more journalists were taken away by authorities on Wednesday as …
Read More »Red Pepper offices to remain closed for another month
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Buganda Road Court has given the state handling the offensive communication case against eight Red Pepper Publication journalists a month to complete investigations on the seized electronics and accessories of the Red Pepper. This follows an exparte application granted by Chief Magistrate James Eremye …
Read More »Journalists protest Philippine move to close news website
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Philippine journalists took to the streets Friday in support of a news website facing state-enforced closure, accusing President Rodrigo Duterte of trampling on press freedom. The government withdrew the corporate registration of the Rappler website this week and has summoned its chief executive to answer …
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