Introduction
Tabloid journalism and press freedom is linked in this book because of the emergence of tabloid genre in many African countries which also now continue to embrace online platforms and operating as online tabloid newspapers in the age of digital technologies. Indeed, there are now more laws that this book explains which are emerging and intended to control the cyberspace but seriously affecting online tabloids. This book threads tabloid journalism and press freedom together while also looking at both print and online tabloid newspapers in all the seven chapters. It discusses tabloid journalism and press freedom looking at the regional countries and also the emerging laws on cyberspace which are heavily discussed at considerable length.
Even though there are currently many studies that explore press freedom in general in Africa, but few are currently discussing online journalism and press freedom (Mabweazara, Mudhai, & Whittaker, 2014), and none have been written on the link between tabloid journalism and press freedom in Africa. Even the studies by Chama (2017, 2019) focus on tabloid journalism in Africa and their professional practices, and on tabloid journalism and corruption exposure. Moreover, it is also important to acknowledge here that the Wasserman (2010) ground-breaking study focuses mainly on tabloid journalism in South Africa. Therefore, this book discusses this subject matter while looking at laws that currently hinder the enjoyment of press freedom mainly by tabloid journalists focusing on defamation, public order, national security, false news and the new laws emerging in many African countries to control the cyberspace now targeting online tabloids, which is a new addition in the body of research when one looks at journalism practice in Africa and press freedom in this age of online journalism practice, social media and popular culture.
Therefore, this introductory chapter on âTabloid Journalism and Press Freedom in Africaâ discusses how tabloid newspapers are affected by the media laws than any other form of journalism practice. It offers a critical analysis of tabloid journalism and press freedom while making an effort to situate press freedom in Africa and further discussing the concept of press freedom. It makes a critical analysis of international and local organizations that measure press freedom in African. It further discusses the harassment of the press in Africa and then offers a critical analysis of the press professional practices and the political context in which the journalists operate. It concludes that journalists in Africa face many challenges, but the continuous existence of colonial draconian laws remains a serious impediment to press freedom. It remains hopeful that there are some positive elements taking place across the continent but acknowledges the shortcomings. It notes that the African journalism practice is in the process of formation. It points out that what is needed are more media regulations to make sure that the journalists are able to adhere to the professional practice of journalism. It also calls for more media laws reforms that are able to promote press freedom and contribute to democracy.
Tabloid Journalism and Press Freedom
Understanding press freedom in Africa requires careful analysis of literature sources from scholars in Africa, interactions and direct insights from journalists as practitioners on the ground, ruling authoritiesâ views and operations of government institutions; all these varies across the continent. Moreover, press freedom that is enjoyed in many African countries cannot in many ways be compared to what is perceived to exist in many Western democracies. This is largely because of a âcolonial legacy and draconianâ laws that continue to be used to silence critical and sometimes objective voices in the excuse of public order. Almost all countries across the continent have provisions in their constitutions that allow press freedom, but in practice, implementation of these legal provisions remains chaotic, often vague and problematic to navigate. Moreover, the emergence of tabloid journalism with their sensational genre continues to create more problems for government authorities, who tend to be usually uncomfortable with tabloids screaming headlines, and generally usage of sensational pictures. Indeed, this book is about âtabloid journalism and press freedom in Africa,â so, and perhaps, it is important to begin by explaining what basically is tabloid journalism practice, which obviously, at the best of times, remains a shadowy and dubious concept either as a journalism genre or as a journalism professional practice. In this book, it is argued and understood that journalism practice generally exists in different genres in Africa, and one genre which continues to become popular in many countries is tabloid journalism. It involves sensational presentation of news, screaming headlines, colourful pictures and graphic news content; it is a genre meant to attract readers to look at every content while using brief stories with an emotive touch. This genre continues to divide opinions in many countries and stretch the understanding of press freedom (Chama, 2017).
The major area of contention is whether tabloid journalism as a genre should be taken seriously due to its tendency to play with the peoplesâ emotions. For instance, Wasserman (2010) explains that a common criticism against many tabloid newspapers is the peddling of sensationalism instead of providing the information that is able to contribute to democratic citizenship. By effectively depoliticizing readers, tabloids prevent them from being active citizens. However, an alternative perspective has been offered by cultural studies scholars who often argue that tabloid newspapers articulate the politics of the everyday lives for many African readers whom formal politics are often far removed from their lived experiences. Tabloid newspapers very often play a critical role in informing citizens unable to understand the complex information, as their use of local jargon and terminologies, crisp texts often accompanied by colourful pictures and large fonts screaming headlines help many readers in comprehension of the content. It is this characteristic of tabloid genre that continues to attract many readers across a wide range of demographics in Africa. But still, tabloid newspapers and its genre have continued to experience resistance from a number of forces in Africa who now range from religious groups to politicians and cultural conservatives, who accuse the newspapers of âabusing press freedom.â These critics also accuse the genre as breaking down cultural norms by discussing issues traditionally considered private in the cultural fabric of the African life, such as publishing pictures of brazen sexual content and infidelity stories. Other critics further accuse tabloids as operating outside the boundaries of press freedom and lowering professional practice of journalism (Kasoma, 1997).
Situating Press Freedom
In 1991, various media representatives across the African continent demanded press freedom by producing a statement in the Namibian capital of Windhoek on press freedom principles by African newspaper journalists. Despite the press freedom proclamation often referred to as the Windhoek Declaration, the African press has continued to suffer many serious setbacks in many countries with the suppression of press freedom. The deteriorating press freedom enjoyment in many African countries has continued to make the annual celebration of the World Press Freedom Day every 3rd May, arguably a mockery in many countries (Ongowo, 2011).
Across the African continent, suppression of press freedom has become a cause for concern. In many countries, there are regular reports of editorial offices being searched on suspicion of betrayal by state agents. There are allegations of journalistsâ telephones being wiretapped especially those that are critical of government. Many journalists continue to face arrests for their critical coverage of important issues and their newspapers being forced to close prematurely. Access to information remains a challenge and continues to hamper the need to communicate freely without the threat of being arrested and imprisoned. The most massive breaches of press freedom are in countries heavily engulfed in civil war and political conflicts (Ocitti, 1999).
There are regular reports in many African countries covered in this bookâs coming chapters of tabloid journalists being arrested on suspicion of spreading false news, abuse of media laws by ruling authorities, even now emerging cyberlaws later covered in this book which all continue to impact on press freedom. This is despite Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights providing the right to press freedom. Moreover, even the African Union and its New Partnership for Africaâs Development all have mechanisms intended to improve press freedom in Africa, but all these declarations are rarely respected in practice in many African countries covered in this book. Besides, even the adoption of the declarations on press freedom in Africa by the African Commission on Human and Peopleâs Rights in Banjul, the capital city of the Gambia, in West Africa, despite providing legally binding guidelines on the signatories under the African Court of Justice, it has limited power even though there exists statutory force to press freedom, challenges still remain in practice across the continent (Moyo, 2005).
However, the demand for press freedom in Africa in the movement towards democracy has been popular in recent years. It is also part of the political demands being imposed by many Western donors as part of their conditions for economic support. In fact, it is generally accepted that the more press freedom a country enjoys, the greater the respect for human rights and social justice. Furthermore, it is often argued by many Western donors to African countries that in the countries with greater media freedoms, the structures of democratic governance are likely to show stability. Therefore, over the last 30 years, press outlets are growing, and citizens are gaining access to a wider variety of news sources especially in this age of online journalism and online newspapers. But this trend is not uniform and not without setbacks. There are still Africa countries in which journalists continue to face violent attacks and sometimes killed for criticizing the government. Others are censored and intimidated into conformity (Mudhai, 2011).
Even though many African countries have enduring publications that goes back to the time of colonialism, it is evident that the suppression of press freedom is linked to colonial laws that helped to foster the whims of colonialists. Moreover, newspapers have historically been dominated by political news and colonialists that owned the first newspapers in many African countries such as Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, Senegal and Kenya for example, and used them as tools for social and economic change while rallying the masses. However, over the years, tensions between the ruling politicians and the press have continued to exist due to mainly their critical coverage, further leading to suppression of press freedom (Skjerdal, 2014).
On the other hand, many African leaders now find it increasingly difficult to hold on to power due to the now growing wide range of media outlets especially online platforms and social media now popular across the continent. Viewed from this perspective, the press is now arguably enjoying at least some level of unprecedented press freedom, and unparalleled levels of economic growth. Indeed, this has given rise to the democratic system of governance. Furthermore, the press is also at least able to enjoy some level of freedom even though this pattern is not always reflective of all countries. The overall trend generally is symptomatic of the political situation in respective countries. Significantly, a large share of this is to do with the nature of colonial rule in Africa which was essentially an authoritarian mode of governance whose nature was reflected negatively both on African societies and the media. Therefore, the fact that political power was associated with the press, these have since become to be seen as complementary of each other, with many journalists eventually ending up as politicians and politicians as journalists (Ocitti, 1999). Moreover, in recent years, many politicians and journalists have also used their online presence such as social media profile and positions to become the most vocal advocates for press freedom and political resistance (Moyo, 2011).
Concept of Press Freedom
In many African countries, press freedom is not only enshrined in their constitutions, but is also seen in theory as a logical extension of any personâs natural desire to be free in terms of expression which is today with the emergence of online platforms and particularly social media as a universal phenomenon. There are currently many people in Africa who are now becoming aware of the importance of freedom of expression and particu...