African journalists have called for the protection of media practitioners across the continent, following increasing cases of attacks, surveillance, and unlawful detention.
The over 450 journalists from 32 African countries made the call in a press release at the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) held in Johannesburg.
The AIJC participants called on African governments to free their colleagues who are behind bars for doing their jobs. The journalists also pushed for an African Union or UN tribunal to investigate crimes against journalists.
Digital safety emerged as a major concern, with media practitioners seeking protection from surveillance software that some governments and private organizations reportedly use to monitor the work of journalists.
For female journalists, the risks are often doubled. The declaration specifically calls for “newsrooms to develop better ways to protect women journalists who face harassment while doing their jobs.”
The declaration also addresses the changing nature of journalism in the digital age. “African journalists want help desks set up for reporting online harassment and getting quick support when faced with digital security threats.” The AIJC participants stated.
The Group also seek training for African journalists to handle artificial intelligence tools that are becoming common in newsrooms.
The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF) and several other media organizations have thrown their weight behind these demands. UNESCO also used the conference to consult journalists about online safety risks, showing growing international interest in protecting African journalists.