New digital media: freedom of expression and safeguarding journalists in the context of East Africa

Article

Kirabira, T. 2020. New digital media: freedom of expression and safeguarding journalists in the context of East Africa. Cross-Cultural Human Rights Review. 2 (1), pp. 49-71. https://doi.org/10.52854/cchrr.39
AuthorsKirabira, T.
Abstract

Many East African states have developed restrictive legal and policy measures regarding the use of the internet. This has resulted in the declining state of media freedom and safety of journalists. This article addresses freedom of expression as a pre-condition for safeguarding journalists in selected East African countries of Tanzania and Burundi. It highlights notable cases, where the regional court has emphasized the importance of press freedom as a precursor for democracy. It concludes that the relevant regional legal framework offers adequate protection for the safety of journalists. However, countries have not fully implemented their obligations. In particular, press and cyber laws create a chilling effect on the treatment of journalists. The article contributes to a broader interrogation of how discourses about the safety of journalists are constructed and applied in the context of growing online activity.

KeywordsEast Africa; Digital Media; Democracy; Journalists; Freedom of Expression; Safeguarding
JournalCross-Cultural Human Rights Review
Journal citation2 (1), pp. 49-71
ISSN2666-3678
Year2020
PublisherCross-Cultural Human Rights Review
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Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.52854/cchrr.39
Web address (URL)https://cchrr-journal.org/articles/10.52854/cchrr.39
Publication dates
Print30 Sep 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited26 Feb 2024
Copyright holder© 2022, The Author
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