Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute
Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute
Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute
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<strong>Press</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Globalisation</strong><br />
these make up a web of strings to authorities, <strong>and</strong> any powerful individual, to interfere with<br />
the press’ conduct. In this way East Africa has a conditional press freedom. 129<br />
Laws protecting national interests are common in all democracies. But such laws in<br />
East Africa are extensive. One example is Tanzania’s Prisons Act of 1967 which bans jour-<br />
nalists to visit prisons, talk with prisoners, take photos, or for ex-prisoners to share their<br />
experience with journalists. 130 In that way Tanzania’s government removed a significant<br />
part of legal protection from public debate.<br />
Media is business based on incomes from markets. A major problem for East<br />
African media is small <strong>and</strong> poor markets due to poverty. Therefore it is difficult for<br />
African media to achieve economic growth <strong>and</strong> a sustainable economy which are supposed<br />
to support their independence. 131 Despite many attempts to start newspapers, bankruptcy is<br />
common. 132 Scanty advertising markets make governments advertising to be a major actor<br />
resulting in dependence. 133 One exception in East Africa is, however the Nation Media<br />
Group, based in Nairobi that runs commercial media business in all these three countries.<br />
In 2003 the group had a total sale of almost US$ 60 million where the profit before tax<br />
reached 20% of the sale. 134 There are some complaints on taxes, among these being the<br />
broadcast licence fees in Ug<strong>and</strong>a. 135 Tanzania’s waiver of some taxes against media is an<br />
unusual example in East Africa of public subsidies to support media. 136<br />
The media ensure their role by creating self-regulating bodies such as The Media<br />
Council of Kenya whose purpose is to keep government out of media operations. 137 In<br />
129<br />
Ogbondah, “Media Laws in Political Transition”, pp. 63-64 <strong>and</strong> 67.<br />
130<br />
Kilimwiko <strong>and</strong> Mapunda (eds.), A h<strong>and</strong>book on the State of the Media in Tanzania, p. 7.<br />
131<br />
Carrington <strong>and</strong> Nelson, “Media in Transition: The Hegemony of Economics”, pp. 225-226.<br />
132<br />
Hydén <strong>and</strong> Leslie, “Communications <strong>and</strong> Democratization in Africa”, p. 18.<br />
133<br />
Ochieng, I Accuse the <strong>Press</strong>, pp. 168-170.<br />
134<br />
Nation Media Group Limited, Annual Report & Accounts / Ripoti Na Hesabu 2003, p. 22.<br />
135<br />
Nakkazi, “Ug<strong>and</strong>a Cracks Down on Radio, TV Stations”.<br />
136<br />
Oral interview with Makunga.<br />
137 nd<br />
The Media Council of Kenya, Code of Conduct <strong>and</strong> Practice of Journalism in Kenya : 2 Edition<br />
(Nairobi: The Media Council of Kenya, 2004 [2002]), p. iii.<br />
99
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