Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Publishing
Press Freedom and Globalisation
Publishing transforms information into a force in society. Democratic values in conflict
with publishing may be divided into categories as national and collective interests as well
as private and individual interests. Each interest may have both legal and ethical aspects.
National interests can be expressed in national security acts. The Tanzanian one, for
instance, is modelled on a British act made in 1911. The act says that it is an offence to
obtain, collect, record, publish or communicate to any person or any code, or password,
article or information which might be or intended to be useful to a foreign power or
disaffected person. The punishment of offence can be life imprisonment. Such conditions
leave little space for press freedom. 153 Criminal laws that seek to protect the honour of the
President or other state institutions and officials, is often wrapped up into laws on seditious
libel. 154 The current Kenyan law on sedition has its origin in the colonial era whose
purpose was to deny blacks freedom of expression. The law is still valid in Kenya but the
practice has been lightened. 155
Broadcasting media have superior positions in East Africa but airwaves are easy to
control. Therefore, radio and TV, more than print media, have been controlled by
governments in East Africa. 156 Despite liberalising, a firm grip is still maintained. For
instance, in 2004 Uganda temporarily closed down 33 FM stations. The dispute was about
broadcasting fees, but all these radio stations represented alternative voices including
foreign programmes. 157 Commercial radio may survive better that non-profit operators. But
commercial radios are concentrated in urban areas where they have markets. Therefore,
153
Kilimwiko and Mapunda (eds.), A handbook on the State of the Media in Tanzania, pp. 3-4.
154
Krug and Price, “The Legal Environment for News Media”, p. 198.
155
Makali (ed.), Media Law and Practice, pp. 272-274.
156
Carver, Coliver, Lauriciano, Lush and Maja-Pearce, Who Rules the Airwaves, p. 1, 7-8 and 33-39.
157 Nakkazi, “Uganda Cracks Down on Radio, TV Stations”
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