Johannesburg – The All African Editors Forum has vowed to work to ensure that editors and journalists would continue to do their jobs ethically, this as World Press Freedom Day was celebrated on Tuesday.
“We, as editors and journalists, again commit ourselves to upholding the highest standards of excellence in journalism, our work will always be guided by public interest, maintaining credibility of the press and the trust of our readers, always striving for the truth and avoiding unnecessary harm, reflecting a multiplicity of voice in our coverage of events as well as showing special concern for children and other vulnerable groups,” African Editors Forum (TAEF) president, Jovial Rantao, said.
“The All Africa Editors Forum notes that governments across Africa have, through the various declarations and regulations, committed themselves to freedom of expression and of the press and media in general. Journalists, editors continue to be harassed and detained, despite the commitment by various governments to the press freedom.”
Rantao said that some countries on the African continent had not removed insult laws and continued to criminalise media offences.
“Therefore TAEF declares that Africa needs strong, free and independent media to act as a watchdog over public institutions. Press freedom is a basic human right, as well as an indispensable constituent of democracy in every African country.”
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated across the world to highlight press freedom and the challenges that journalists face in many parts of the world.
Rantao added that citizens in all African states would not be free until all media on the continent was free.
“Nations of Africa needs a free media so that they can provide them with information that would enable them to take informed decision about their lives. Governments across the continent, who have pledged to uphold freedom of the media must walk the talk and stop harassing and detaining journalists and editors for doing their work.”
“AU (African Union) must name and shame governments that violate freedom of the media and of expression.”
African News Agency