Media guilds in Eastern Africa have called on their respective governments to review and update media laws in advocating for press freedom and sustainability measures amid the ongoing global pandemic.
In a statement Wednesday, the editors, led by guild chairs Churchill Otieno (Kenya), Daniel Kalinaki (Uganda), Deodatus Balile (Tanzania) and Bruh Mengistu Yihunbelay (Ethiopia), acknowledged that the current political, social and economic challenges in the region have affected media performance and its sustainability.
Concerns of media freedom were also raised, with the Guild making observations over the decreasing levels of press freedom in some countries in Eastern Africa, which they further attribute to both political and economic pressures.
According to the report, the spread of the pandemic has led to media professionals experiencing increased incidences of arrests, physical attacks and fake news, with Africa being among the leading regions globally in the regression of press freedom.
In addition, the editors are also seeking for funds to support investigative journalism in the region, stating that it would be critical to the advancement of the role of the media and journalism to check governments and hold leaders to account.
