Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Press Freedom and Globalisation
While Scandinavian media have followed similar trends to those of other Western
countries, 24 East Africa is new in media commercialisation. Conerning democracy, all East
African countries have adopted liberal ideals including the principle of press freedom. But
this has happened about 200 years later than in the West, which explains its moderate
level.
The conflicting issues on press freedom in East Africa today are similar to conflicts
in Scandinavia decades or even a century before. One example is the freedom to access
information which is an issue in East Africa. After years of struggle it was implemented by
laws in Scandinavia in 1970. 25 Another example is establishing of self-regulation which is
happening in East Africa now. 26 That was a reality in Scandinavia around the 1920s. 27
Both Scandinavian and East African media and individuals are well connected to
international NGOs concerned with press freedom. However, a difference is that East Afri-
cans have client relations to these NGOs. A common pattern is that Scandinavians are
donors and East Africans are the recipients. 28 Scandinavians are involved in formulating of
policy, East Africans are adopters of that policy. 29 In education there are similar patterns of
universal standardisation. The difference is that East Africa plays the role of client. Aid
from Scandinavian donors has funded schools of journalism in East Africa. 30 The concepts
in the dicipline of journalism is developed in the West and exported to journalism schools
in poor countries. 31 Concerning codes of conduct Scandinavians have participated in
24
Dahlgren, “Media and power transitions in a small country: Sweden”p. 251
25
Eide, Den redigerende makt, p. 115.
26
Oral interview with Kamweru.
27
Clement, Mass Media Codes of Ethics and Councils, pp. 18-19, 28-29 and 30-32.
28
International Press Institute, “Press Freedom Fund” in 10 Years IPI Headquarters in Vienna, p. 7; and oral
interview with Kamweru.
29
One example: Coppard, IPI: The Defence of Press Freedom, pp. 127-128 and 133.
30
Three examples: 1) Sweden in Tanzania: The Media Council of Tanzania, “SIDA okays 47 m/- for starting
centre for training of journos” in Media Watch, Sept. 2004, 2) Norwegian and Danish survey conclusion in
proposed support to education in Uganda: Norad, “Medierapport fra Uganda”, section 5, 3) Norway to the
University of Nairobi: Bourgault, Mass Media in Sub-Saharan Africa, p. 128.
31
In general: Merrill, Global Journalism, p. 213. One example about Norway in Ethiopia: Eikje, “God
journalistikk er en vaktbikkje”.
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