NEW-CfP Global Media Journal, African Edition 10(1) 2016

Call for Papers: CfP Global Media Journal, African Edition Vol.10.1 Special Issue on “Safety of Journalists in Africa” Deadline: January 15, 2016

Editor: Ibrahim Saleh, PhD University of Cape Town, South Africa

Publisher: Gabriel Botma, PhD Stellenbosch University, South Africa

The Global Media Journal, African Edition invites full paper submissions to its next issue that focuses on safety of journalists in Africa. Journalists and other media workers in Africa are frequently attacked and killed simply for doing their jobs of seeking the truth (TUC, 2011). In Africa the threats to journalists are consistent and serious across most of the region. According to the 2015 report of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), (1147) journalists Killed since 1992 with (20%) working on Corruption; (21%) on Human Rights; (46%) on Politics & (38%) on War. The African Commission on Human and People's Rights passed a new resolution expressing concern over "the declining safety and security situation of journalists and media practitioners in some African countries", noted that "killings, attacks and kidnapping of journalists, which are contrary to international humanitarian and human rights law, are often committed in an environment of impunity" (Osman, 2011). This happens at a time, when the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights guarantees individuals against arbitrary deprivation of the right to life (Article 4), establishes an absolute prohibition of torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 5), guarantees the right to liberty and security of the person (Article 6), and freedom of expression (Article 9). Many argue that safety of journalists is jeopardized by the lack of implementation of existing laws; lack of investigation in particular problem, where journalists suffer attacks in full-blown war situations as in the case of Iraq and Somalia.in addition, the lower-profile armed conflict, attacks on journalists are often orchestrated by groups that are explicitly placed outside the jurisdiction of states. Finally, journalists endure different types of torture, and/or sexual assault, especially among female journalists. However, these types of violence is rarely discussed adequately, due to cultural taboos as well as the victim’s fear that he/she will be perceived as “too Weak” (Elbahtimy & Elliott, 2012). In the shady world of today, the African journalists are confronted with a simple fact that there are certain things a journalist cannot write about. And as a journalist, if you want to be doing your job for long, you just have to make sure you never cross dangerously into the "Red-Zone". Against this main bleak reality, the main questions in this special issue: Is Africa too dangerous for journalists? List of References: Elbahtimy, M. & Elliott, S. (2012). Safety of Journalists Research Pack. Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR), University of Cambridge, pp.2157. Fighting for the Safety of African Journalists, (2011). Trade Union Congress (TUC), (January 28, 2011). Available At: https://www.tuc.org.uk/internationalissues/nigeria/zimbabwe/human-rights/fighting-safety-african-journalists Osman, F. (2011). New call for safety of journalists working in Africa. National Union of Journalists (NUJ), (May 16, 2011). Available At: https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/new-call-for-safety-of-journalists-working-in-africa/