16 December 2009

Journalists self-censor in order to survive


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Although there has been a decline in free expression violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it has not been matched by an improvement in the quality of news gathering, says Journaliste en danger (JED) in its 2009 annual report.

"Free Expression in Daily Life: Between Fear and Survival" was released on 10 December, Human Rights Day. JED says a "psychosis of fear" and mismanaged investigations of attacks on journalists have resulted in self-censorship.

JED documented 75 attacks on free expression in the DRC in 2009, a 30 percent decrease from 2008. The highest number of violations took place in Kinshasa, which has the greatest number of media professionals. But South Kivu province is the most dangerous place with three journalists killed since 2007. At least one journalist has been killed every year in the DRC since 2005.

Free Expression in Daily Life: Between Fear and Survival (French only)



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Free expression violations down in 2009, says JED in year-end report 14 December 2009

Also from the Communiqué, 16 December 2009

INTERNATIONAL: Environmental journalists censored and assaulted 16 December 2009 INTERNATIONAL: Freedom of expression under attack in every region, say IFEX members on International Human Rights Day 16 December 2009 HONDURAS: Rights activist gunned down 16 December 2009 LITHUANIA: New law censors information about homosexuality 16 December 2009 BANGLADESH: Government fails to respect the role of journalists, says IPI mission 16 December 2009 INTERNATIONAL: Freelance journalists fill jail cells, says CPJ prison census 16 December 2009 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: CIHRS provides an overview of free expression abuses in Arab World 16 December 2009 AMERICAS: IAPA calls for entries for 2010 journalism contest 16 December 2009 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA / AWARDS: WAN-IFRA honours Iraqi Kurdistan editor with Tueni Award 16 December 2009 IRAN: ARTICLE 19 launches Iranian blog, Azad Tribune 16 December 2009

Democratic Republic of Congo

Community radio station back on air after three-month suspension 24 January 2012 Newspapers suspended on alleged administrative violations 10 January 2012 See all alerts: Democratic Republic of Congo


Central and Eastern Africa

SOUTH SUDAN: Journalist assaulted in Parliament 9 February 2012 UGANDA: Court acquits “Daily Monitor” editors 8 February 2012 DJIBOUTI: Radio journalist threatened and tortured for 24 hours 3 February 2012 KENYA: WiPC interview with Robert Wanyonyi on witnessing and reporting on crime 1 February 2012


 
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