16 November 2010
Summary
Burundi is a country composed of a very vibrant media landscape, mostly privately owned. The new government which came to power in May 2010 following a very peaceful election which enjoyed a great goodwill from the media (through a media synergy that preached peace and responsibility), has suddenly resuscitated its vigor in clamping down on media freedom by arresting and detaining journalists who dare criticize or question their policies. The government and the media view each other with a lot of suspicion.
The government looks at the independent media as opposition mouthpiece, while the media also see the government as excessive and oppressive, and which they must fight at all cost, sometimes in total disregard to ethics. The media operate in an environment without a code of conduct and practice to guide journalistic work, especially on ethics.
From September 15 to18, the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) in conjunction with the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) conducted solidarity mission in Burundi. The mission was composed of EAJA Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman, who is also the President of the Federation of African Journalists and EAJA Regional Media Freedom and Advocacy Coordinator Tervil Okoko.
The government looks at the independent media as opposition mouthpiece, while the media also see the government as excessive and oppressive, and which they must fight at all cost, sometimes in total disregard to ethics. The media operate in an environment without a code of conduct and practice to guide journalistic work, especially on ethics.
From September 15 to18, the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) in conjunction with the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) conducted solidarity mission in Burundi. The mission was composed of EAJA Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman, who is also the President of the Federation of African Journalists and EAJA Regional Media Freedom and Advocacy Coordinator Tervil Okoko.
The mission was inspired by the deteriorating media freedom environment in the country following the arrest of two journalists in less than three months, the continued detention of one journalist who was charged with treason and the poisoned relationship between the journalists and the government. The mission, which was supported by the Open Society Foundation’s Network Media Program and officially hosted by the Union of Burundian Journalists (UBJ), aimed to assess the press freedom situation in the country, extend solidarity to Burundian colleagues and lobby for the immediate release of detained editor, Jean Claude Kavumbagu.
Ethics is of great concern in the country, and has attracted the heavy hand of the government into media operations. For example, the formation of the National Communication Council (CNC), was a good intention but with a bad result. The CNC is controlled by the government, which appoints its board and leadership. Burundi needs an independent self-regulating body that can also be charged with the responsibility of training journalists on ethics. Journalist organisations like the Burundi Journalists Union should be used to build the capacity of journalists on ethics. There is need to develop a code of conduct and practice for journalists in Burundi.
