INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS

The Role of Media in

Promotion of Human Rights
and Democratic Development
in Africa

Brussels, December 1999

INTRODUCTION

“Press freedom is a cornerstone of human rights. It holds governments responsible for

their acts, and serves a warning to all that impunity is an illusion.”
Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, International Herald Tribune, June 2, 1999

The link between human rights, democracy and development is a core question for
policymakers, not just in the political world, but within the business and finance circles
of the global market.

It is increasingly recognised that stability, social and cultural cohesion and structures
for democracy are essential to strategies for trade, international co-operation and
national development. A key element of these strategies concerns independent
journalism and free media which provide a bedrock for democratic exchange and
respect for human rights.

The contribution made by journalists is clear: by exposing violations of rights media

can improve the climate of democratic debate and reduce corruption in public life. At
the same time, media sensitive to the importance of human rights provide reliable
sources of information through which citizens, human rights groups, private
organisations and public authorities can work together to promote development and to
eliminate arbitrary abuse.
________________________________________________________
African media are important for people to know their rights: A recent
study on the impact of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
in Ghana showed that the largest source of information for the
public on the Convention and what it means for them is the media.

Independent-minded journalists in Africa have for many years played a central role in
the promotion of democracy. Many have put their lives or freedom at risk in order to
promote transparent and accountable governance. The IFJ compiles extensive records
of the sacrifice made by journalists and other media professionals. Many journalists
have been arrested, prosecuted or condemned to heavy fines or prison terms. There
have been many instances of censorship or suspension of publications.

Press freedom becomes an issue and independent journalism becomes a target because
it is these are conditions without which it is impossible to advance and protect other
human rights. Therefore, professionalism among journalists, editors and publishers and
quality in sources of information are vital to the defence of human rights for all.

This memorandum offers some general reflections on the current conditions in which
journalists work and the obstacles to press freedom, it considers the need for an

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integrated and strategic approach to support of independent journalism and concludes
with some suggestions for further actions.

OBSTACLES TO MEDIA FREEDOM

The single most important obstacle to media freedom in Africa and elsewhere is the
failure to recognise the role played by independent journalism in the creation,
nourishment and development of democracy.

This lack of recognition is reflected in the presence of active censorship or restrictive

regulation of journalists, lack of rights of access to official information, a legal
landscape which inhibits the ability of journalists to inquire freely (for instance, the
application of draconian defamation and sedition laws), and the state administration of
essential media services, including broadcasting, printing facilities and distribution
systems.

It should be noted that a difficult relationship between journalism and the exercise of
political power is itself a hallmark of democratic society and the tendency to
manipulate news and information or to try to shape the agenda of public debate exists
in all societies.

But in countries where the democratic culture is not well established and where
respect for democratic pluralism and human rights is not firmly entrenched, restrictions
on media tend to be explicit and are profoundly damaging to the project of public
engagement in democracy and development.

However, if human rights are to be respected journalists and the public have to know
something about them. Regrettably, in Africa ignorance and lack of awareness
abounds. Few journalists or public officials are able to identify with confidence even
half a dozen of the basic rights supported by The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights or by the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

The question of raising awareness, improving training and developing skills for the
promotion of democracy remains a potent challenge for media professionals and
policymakers alike. The African Charter needs to be more widely known and
discussed and needs to be made meaningful to citizens. People need to know what this
home grown Charter says, how it can protect them and how they can assert their rights
through the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.

Awareness is key to the promotion of rights. Citizens must be able to

celebrate achievements and successes. Media have a role to play in
reporting good examples of tolerance, peace and respect for human
rights. It is not all bad-news dominated by conflict and strife.

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While it is helpful to identify these obstacles and to work against them a lasting
improvement of the rights and status of journalists can only be achieved with a
comprehensive, integrated and long-term media strategy aimed at the source of the
problem: the lack of recognition of independent journalism free of undue influence
from political or economic interests.

Journalists in democratic society largely enjoy recognition within civil society because
of their scrutiny of those in power. The notion of journalism in the public interest
requires that journalists, editors, publishers and broadcasters be independent and that
they make common cause with other groups in civil society in defence of democracy.

At the same time media must accept scrutiny of their own affairs, for scrutiny is the
sanction which journalists hold over others. This scrutiny is not to be directed by the
government, but through structures which provide for democratic accountability on behalf
of the public for whom they broadcast and publish. The scope and effectiveness of self-
regulation is itself a benchmark of public confidence in journalism.

A CLIMATE FOR PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Journalists need to work in professional and social conditions where they are free to
resolve ethical dilemmas alone and where they can make professional decisions on
editorial content. This is a prerequisite for good journalism not just in Africa, but the world
over. This type of editorial independence should exist both in publicly owned and privately
owned media, irrespective of ownership.

Actions to support independent journalism should build on the following principles:

• public scrutiny of the exercise of power is essential in a democracy;

• law related to journalism and media should be consistent with international stan-
dards and only elaborated after the fullest consultation with journalists;
• independent organisations of journalists are best able to defend media freedom;
• media professionals have a duty to work to the highest standards and should accept
responsibility to set up structures for effective self-regulation.

With these principles in mind, the IFJ believes support for democracy and
development in Africa requires a media dimension according to the following
standards:

Respect for International Standards of Press Freedom

Increasing concerns over the need for ethical and democratic principles to apply in
all aspects of international trade and assistance requires that the international

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 community should ensure that political and economic support to governments in
Africa is made conditional upon respect for human rights including freedom of
expression. This requires a thorough-going analysis of existing obstacles and the
introduction of structures for dialogue whereby media professionals and journalists
organisations are able to discuss with authorities the need for change and how
change can be introduced.

Strengthening Media Professional Organisations

Media professionals (journalists, publishers, broadcasters) in Africa have the

expertise, the talent and commitment to build new and lasting structures in all
media. They are best able to identify obstacles to press freedom, to define solutions
to media problems and to implement strategies for media development. African
media professionals must be closely involved in the implementation of media
training and assistance programmes. Too often, well-intentioned interest groups,
particularly in the field of human rights and development seek to represent the
needs of media. Journalists must be able to speak for themselves.

A Comprehensive, Integrated and Accountable Strategy

Strategies for media development and assistance in the region must be long term,
they must tackle all obstacles to media freedom (covering legal conditions,
professional and social organisation, training and media development) and they
must involve all media professionals. In addition, the allocation and disbursement
of public funds must adhere to the principles of transparency and accountability.

Rapid Assistance to Media in Crisis

A fast-track approach must be taken to support African media in trouble. Where

there is instability and abuse of human rights journalists are usually among the first
victims. It is vital to provide small-scale support quickly and without lengthy
bureaucratic procedures. Transparent guidelines for assistance such as those as
developed for the IFJ International Safety Fund should be applicable.

PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER ACTIONS

The IFJ alone cannot provide all assistance that is needed to change the political, legal
and professional restrictions independent journalism in facing in Africa. But the IFJ is
well placed to elaborate programmes of assistance that tackle the problem of
widespread lack of respect of independent journalism in Africa.

Such a comprehensive and long-term programme is required to address three issues:

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Objective 1:
Identifying and removing practical obstacles to press freedom and independent
journalism

In this area of work programmes of research and monitoring must identify changes
which are required at national level to create a legal and professional framework for
media. Such work should be based upon respect for international standards governing:

1. Laws and regulations affecting access to journalism and the exercise of journalism;
2. Regulation of information and communication technologies;
3. Operation of public service broadcasting;
4. Allocation of technical and financial resources (for instance, distribution
systems and public advertising).

Methods:

! review of existing laws by national journalists’ organisations, national and international

media law experts;
! establishment of parliamentary committees to consult with organisations of media
professionals and other relevant groups on law reform;
! review of existing rules and regulations governing state broadcasting;
! establishment of public service broadcasting reform committees under the auspices of
independent media commissions where they exist or by parliament which will consult
with all groups representing journalists and other media workers employed in state
broadcasting;
! public campaign for the reform of public service broadcasting with the support of
national journalists’ organisations, media rights groups and international organisations
representing journalists and public service broadcasters;
! review of existing distribution systems and bodies responsible for allocation of public
advertising by national associations of publishers and international organisations of
media professionals;

Indicators:

! short-term: analysis and critique of existing laws affecting the exercise of journalism to
be widely circulated at national level;
! medium term: reports from parliamentary committees showing a clear commitment to
media law reform and supported by the profession;
! long-term: repeal of restrictive laws, establishment of legal framework in line with
international standards of freedom of expression;
! short-term: analysis and critique of existing rules governing state broadcasting
highlighting areas of reform to be widely circulated at national level;

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! medium term: reports of public service broadcasting reform committees showing a
clear commitment to reform and supported by the profession;
! medium term: Coalition for public service broadcasting reform whose initiatives are
widely reported in the media and have the support of relevant groups in society
including parliament;
! long-term: adoption of new broadcast laws establishing genuine public service
broadcasting institutions in line with international standards as set jointly by the
European Broadcasting Union and the IFJ;
! short term: analysis and critique of existing distribution systems and structures for
allocation of public advertising to be widely circulated and debated at national level;
! medium-term: establishment of joint review committee by parliament, government and
publishers’ associations;
! Long-term: private distribution and advertising allocation structures where possible,
public distribution and advertising allocation structures that are administered
independently and that operate according to market principles not political
considerations.

Objective 2:
Building awareness of human rights issues among journalists and policy makers
and strengthening public confidence in the role of media in democracy

Public confidence in the role of media as a bulwark of democracy will only grow when the
political and media agenda gives adequate priority to human rights and development issues.
Therefore, programmes of work in this area must combat ignorance, promote greater
awareness and stimulate public debate. In particular, the EU can contribute by supporting:

1. Campaigns developed by journalists’ organisations in co-operation with other groups in

civil society in defence of media freedom (for instance: campaign for freedom of
information);

2. Structures for dialogue at a national level between journalists, civil society and the
authorities on human rights and development issues and the media contribution to
improving standards;

3. Initiatives developed by the journalists’ organisations in co-operation with other groups

in civil society in support of key issues of human rights – for instance, media and the
rights of the child, tolerance, rights of indigenous peoples, social and cultural issues.

Methods:

! Establishment of coalition of journalists’ organisations, other groups representing

media professionals, civil and human rights group to agree proposals for a national
freedom of information act based on internationally agreed principles;

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! Launch of national and regional freedom of information campaigns;
! Establishment of regular media encounters analysing media performance in
promotion human rights involving relevant groups of civil society;
! Launch of media in school initiatives with the support of teachers’ organisations,
UNICEF and others;
! Special short-term training programmes developed by journalists’ organisations
and other relevant national and international groups focusing on key human rights
issues.

Indicators:

! Short-term: coalition agrees joint campaign policy and draft for freedom of
information legislation and practice;
! Short-term: launch event at national and regional level involving all relevant
groups, campaign statements and activities;
! Medium-term: draft freedom of information act debated in parliament, committee
to consult media professionals;
! Long-term: adoption of freedom of information act in line with agreed
international standards;
! Short-term: first series of media encounters take place at press houses or media
observatories involving key representatives of relevant groups in civil society;
! Long-term: government and parliament established structures for consultation with
journalists’ organisations and other human rights groups on policies in support of
human rights and media development;
! Short-term: introduction of media in school programmes organised by journalists’
and teachers’ organisations with the support of national governments and
international agencies such as UNICEF;
! Long-term: media literacy becomes an integral part of school education;
! Short-term: journalists’ organisations, training institutions where they exist, other
bodies supporting journalism training agree integrated programme for short-term
courses on key issues of human rights;
! Short-term: first series of training courses is carried out, existing training materials
are reviewed, up-dated and circulated to the journalists’ organisations, media
houses and training institutions;
! Long-term: Human rights issues and the materials developed in the short-term
courses become an integral part of national journalism training.

Objective 3:
Improving conditions for independence and professionalism in African
journalism

As independent journalism is key to achieving the first two objectives a media strategy
in support of press freedom and human rights must make improving the conditions for

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independence and professionalism in African journalism a priority. The numerous
activities of the Media for Democracy in Africa programme have done much to
pinpoint areas where new initiatives are required to further strengthen the role of
journalists and other media professionals. These include:

1. Unifying the profession

Journalists in both government-owned and privately-owned media should be supported in

initiatives to strengthen awareness of and actions to promote basic standards of
professional conduct and ethics. In particular, structural and political support should be
provided for the creation and strengthening of representative and independent journalists’
organisations which play an instrumental role in formulation of media policy so that
journalists are integrated in the process of media development

2. Creating Systems of Media Accountability

Systems of self-regulation should be developed and run by the media professionals

themselves. This should include media observatories that monitor media performance and
violations of press freedom which are established by media professionals and are free of
government control. These can ensure well-respected, independent and efficient media
accountability to the public.

3. Journalism Training

Action is required to promote national structures of journalism training (financed by

national governments, publishers and students with initial support from abroad). These
must be administered by journalists, media owners and journalism trainers and must
provide training in journalism skills while promoting awareness of ethical and professional
issues and include in the curriculum training modules covering human rights reporting,
investigative journalism, election coverage, and media law.

4. Media Resources

Follow-up work is needed to continue to provide resources (access to internet, training

materials, key reference documents, national and international media) accessible to all
journalists through support for press houses administered by the journalists’ organisations
in partnership with publishers and other relevant professional groups.

Methods:

! Launch of recruitment drive by the existing journalists’ organisation,

discussions between the different journalists’ organisation where there are
more than one;

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! Review of existing independent media observatories, preparation of guidelines
for establishing respected and efficient systems of self-regulation;
! Seminars and meetings to agree one code of ethics by the journalists’
organisations, the editors and publishers;
! Establishment of independent media observatories administered by the media
professionals themselves;
! Review and report on existing journalism training institutions, their curriculum
and resources;
! Establishment of joint committee involving government, the journalists’
organisation, the publishers’ and broadcasters’ associations and journalism
trainers to draw up a plan for the creation or strengthening of journalism
training schools, preparation of a business plan and budget for the journalism
school, preparation of a draft curriculum covering human rights reporting,
investigative journalism, media law etc;
! Creation or strengthening of national press houses with outside and government
support administered by the media professionals themselves, preparation of a
plan for self-sufficiency.

Indicators:

! Short-term: recruitment campaign undertaken by journalists’ organisation,

negotiations with other groups representing journalists or other media
professionals;
! Medium-term: increase in membership in journalists’ organisation,
establishment of committees for joint representation by different journalists’
organisations;
! Long-term: one journalists’ organisations representing more than 80% of
working journalists, umbrella body unifying all organisations representing
more than 80% of working journalists;
! Short-term: agreed guidelines for establishment of respected and efficient
media observatories;
! medium-term: code of ethics agreed by media professionals;
! medium-term: establishment of media observatory administered by the
journalists themselves which publishes regular reports on media performance
and violations of press freedom;
! long-term: media observatory becomes the country’s recognised system of self-
regulation similar to the press councils existing in parts of Europe;
! short-term: analysis and critique of existing training institutions, identification
of needs where no national training structure exists;
! medium-term: joint committee is established and there is a clear commitment
from the government to support independent national training institutions;

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! medium-term: joint committees agrees business plan and budget, draft
curriculum and strategies for short-term and long-term funding;
! long-term: national journalism training structures are established and train
journalists to receive recognised qualifications;
! short-term: journalists’ organisations and publishers agree establishment of
press house, staffing and funding strategy;
! medium-term: establishment of press house;
! long-term: the national press house is self-sufficient and has become the main
resource and meeting point for journalists in the capital and beyond.

STRATEGIES FOR ASSISTANCE: EMPOWERMENT AND CO-ORDINATION

Any programme in support of independent journalism in Africa can only succeed if it

involves journalists in the country or region through their representative journalists’
association or union. Assistance programmes must also be cohesive and co-ordinated. This
can only happen if there is co-operation between the representative organisations of
journalists at international, regional and national level. Many initiatives are strengthened if
they can build on expertise from international and regional level. However, no assistance
programmes should be developed without the co-operation of national journalists’
organisations which should also be closely involved in implementation of activities..

The Media for Democracy in Africa programme developed the following structure:

At international level the IFJ has acted as a source of technical assistance providing overall
supervision and co-ordination of work and installing systems for reporting and assessment
of project proposals while providing links to other organisations active in the field.

At regional level existing regional structures such as the West Africa Journalists
Association and the East Africa Journalists Association provide regional co-ordination and
organisation of activities at regional level.

At national level a network of journalists’ organisations implement all national components

of the overall programme. The operational structure of the programme has had important
advantages, not least being that local partners propose activities and are responsible for
organisation of activity. As a result the skills journalists’ associations have acquired during
the programme, means that most of them are quite capable of running their own projects.

At the same time, the Media for Democracy programme provides the overall framework
both on the level of content as well as the practical organisation is concerned. For instance,
many local partners would not be able to organise the kinds of activities they do organise
within the MFD programme, simply because they would not be in a position to pre-finance
the necessary 20% of the activity. In addition, organising regional activities with

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international expertise would be more costly for them if they were not part of a larger
framework programme. Without an overall strategic framework activities would not
benefit from the international link and would suffer from the financial constraints imposed.

A comprehensive programme for Africa needs to draw on specific areas of expertise and
should be co-ordinated with other relevant actors in the field. The IFJ believes that the core
of a media programme designed to promote human rights must be run by the journalists
themselves. At the same time, journalists’ organisations should work with other relevant
groups for the advancement of human rights and media freedom.

The crucial partnership base is provided by representative professional organisations in

media involving the national journalists’ associations in Africa, the regional journalists’
organisations and international professional organisations representing media professionals
including the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, and
the World Association of Newspapers.

In addition, partners are required for specific activities. For instance,

• Campaigns for freedom of expression require the participation of relevant non-

governmental organisations such as the national International Freedom of Expression
Exchange members in Africa, the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Reporters sans
frontiéres, and Article 19.

• National training activities involve African journalism training and research institutions
and where appropriate other NGOs active in the training field such as the
Commonwealth Broadcasting Union and the Thomson Foundation.

• Promoting human rights require close contact with other NGOs active in areas covered
by the programme such as Womens’ media associations, child rights groups, human
rights leagues and numerous other international human rights groups.

At a governmental level a network of partners exists involving major European

government donors active in Africa such as Danida, Sida, Norad, Finnida, Co-operation
Française, and governmental agencies from Belgium, the UK, Germany and Portugal.
International governmental organisations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, UN Human Rights
Commission and the World Bank also play an important role.

CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS

1. We believe it is essential to prepare strategies which will be comprehensive, integrated

and provide for realistic long-term objectives. This paper has pointed out the key areas
of concern which should be addressed by such a strategy:

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 ! Identifying and removing practical obstacles to press freedom and
independent journalism;

! Building awareness of human rights issues among journalists and policy

makers and strengthening public confidence in the role of media in
democracy;

! Improving conditions for independence and professionalism in African

journalism.

We believe that a new programme should be launched in support of human rights and
independent journalism that will:

! Promote respect for international standards of press freedom;

! Strengthen media professionals organisations;

! Be comprehensive, integrated and accountable;

! Provide rapid assistance to media in crisis.

International Federation of Journalists

Project Division
Brussels, December 1999

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