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 />
UNESCO in Nairobi, concerned with press freedom, does strengthen the global connect-<br />
ions to East Africa in these matters.<br />
Kenya has enjoyed a higher level of press freedom compared to other developing<br />
countries. 28 One reason may be the education of journalists in the country. 29 The level <strong>and</strong><br />
variety of journalism education in Kenya is among the highest in Africa. 30 Nairobi has<br />
emerged as the media centre in East <strong>and</strong> Central Africa. 31 In independent Kenya, press<br />
freedom has had its ups <strong>and</strong> downs. Due to weak legal protection, press freedom in Kenya<br />
has been dependent on politicians’ interpretation <strong>and</strong> goodwill. 32 While press freedom has<br />
been improved 33 there are occasions when journalists <strong>and</strong> editors are questionned <strong>and</strong><br />
imprisoned. 34<br />
A chronological survey of some changes in Kenyan press freedom shows that the<br />
colonial rulers just before independence still maintained a strong regime towards the press.<br />
Even new restrictions were still introduced. 35 Emergence of the Nation newspapers in 1960<br />
marked a milestone. Despite foreign ownership, these newspapers were staffed with<br />
Africans <strong>and</strong> added Kenyan opinions within mainstream media. 36<br />
Optimism on press freedom was quickly reduced after independence when new<br />
rulers started to manipulate media <strong>and</strong> news for their propag<strong>and</strong>a purposes. 37 Criticism of<br />
government <strong>and</strong> the president resulted in silencing of editors. 38 Even worse became the<br />
28 Ogundimu, “Media <strong>and</strong> Democracy in Twenty-First-Century Africa”, p. 215.<br />
29 Coppard, Kit, IPI: The Defence of <strong>Press</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> : A History of The <strong>International</strong> <strong>Press</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> : Part II:<br />
1976-1988 (London/Zurich: The <strong>International</strong> <strong>Press</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>, 1988), p. 43.<br />
30 Merrill, Global Journalism, p. 253.<br />
31<br />
Makali (ed.), Media Law <strong>and</strong> Practice, p. 91.<br />
32<br />
Abuoga <strong>and</strong> Mutere, The History of the <strong>Press</strong> in Kenya, pp. 79-80.<br />
33<br />
Bindra, Sunny, “The real achievement of 2003 is an open society” in Sunday Nation (Nairobi: Nation<br />
Media Group), commentary, 21 st December, 2003.<br />
34<br />
<strong>International</strong> <strong>Press</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>, IPI Report 2003, p. 27-28.<br />
35<br />
Makali (ed.), Media Law <strong>and</strong> Practice, p. 70.<br />
36<br />
Ibid., pp. 71-72; <strong>and</strong> Odero, Mitch, “<strong>Press</strong> in Kenya: an overview” in Odero, Mitch <strong>and</strong> Kamweru, Esther<br />
(eds.), Media culture <strong>and</strong> performance in Kenya (Nairobi: Eastern Africa Media <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>and</strong> Friedrich<br />
Ebert Stiftung, 2000), pp. 11-13.<br />
37<br />
Kadhi, “Anglophone Africa: Puppets of the proprietors?”, p. 122.<br />
38 Odero, “<strong>Press</strong> in Kenya: an overview”, p. 15.<br />
85
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