WE GO AGAIN
KEVIN McCALLUM: Journalism is under attack from those threatened by it
From Trump to Tanzania, journalism is under attack. On the same day, in the US and in Africa, journalists were berated, accused and, in the case of SA’s Angela Quintal, abducted and taken in for questioning by Tanzanian authorities. Quintal and Muthoki Mumo from the Committee to Protect Journalists were released on Thursday after the SA high commissioner in Dar es Salaam had negotiated their release, but their passports were confiscated. They had been asking questions about a missing journalist. The Tanzanian authorities did not take kindly to that. Quintal’s phone was hacked. A false message put out on Twitter. It was horrifying. I worked with Quintal at Independent Newspapers. She would send through the odd request for stories that made sense, an unusual thing from editors. And, now, she who works to protect journalists needs protection. That protection comes from journalists dragging the darkness into the light, checking, asking and telling. That protection is necessary to keep l...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.