2014-08-28 16:51:00

African Media Initiative launches campaign against hate speech


There is a growing perception on the African continent that hate speech in the media is on the increase. In response to the scourge, the African Media Initiative (AMI) has launched an African campaign against hate speech at a panel discussion held in Nairobi, Kenya, recently.

The #TurnthePageonHateSpeech campaign serves as a call to media leaders and operators in Africa to lend their full support to efforts to turn the tide against the rise of hate speech on the continent. Using the power of the web, the campaign will also engage thought leaders, journalists, bloggers, writers, poets, cartoonists and citizens in Africa and across the globe, with the aim of bringing the media and the public’s attention to the devastating effects of hate speech.

Recently quoting one of the African Media Initiative (AMI) organisers, South Africa’s Mail&Guardian newspaper said “there is a growing sense of exclusion on the continent, and the media appears to be a part of it”. Although the levels of hate speech may not be anywhere near what occurred in Rwanda, in 1994, what is happening on the continent is bad enough to warrant this initiative. Mostly due to financial dependence on various power bases such as politicians, by many African media houses, there is talk now of “media capture” whereby the media in Africa is prone to express and reproduce the views of politicians inciting violence.

Whilst 2014 marks the anniversaries of two momentous events in modern African history – 20 years since the end of apartheid in South Africa and 20 years since the Rwandan Genocide – many African citizens continue to witness and live with a surge of intolerance and hate, growing levels of discrimination and the rise in ethnic and religious fundamentalism.

According to AMI CEO, Eric Chinje: “Journalists are often used as instruments of propaganda. Yet it is in part the media’s role to defend and promote people's rights and ensure that women, children, minorities and other vulnerable groups in society are not unfairly and unduly targeted.”

The campaign was shaped through a consultation process organised by AMI in Kigali, Rwanda, in April this year. Media organisations and journalist unions, including the Ethical Journalism Network, the African Editors’ Forum, the Federation of African Journalists, and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, to name a few, joined forces to launch this continent-wide campaign.

Speaking in Kigali, the Director of the Ethical Journalism Network, Aidan White affirmed that, “we must promote ethical, tolerant and inclusive journalism. Journalists should not regurgitate hateful speech coming from politicians or community and religious leaders. It is a journalist’s duty to put things in context and ensure that what they are saying does not incite more hate and violence.”

The campaign will culminate with three days of discussions around the theme at the annual African Media Leaders’ Forum (AMLF), the largest gathering of media professionals on the continent, which this year will take place from 12 - 14 November, in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The African Media Initiative (AMI)  would like to serve as a catalyst for strengthening African media by building the tools, knowledge resources and technical capacity for African media to play an effective public interest role in their societies. This mandate includes assisting with the development of professional standards, financial sustainability, technological adaptability and civic engagement.

 e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va

 








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