The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) marked the second anniversary of the Eritrean government's crackdown on the country's political opposition and the private press by calling for the release of 17 jailed journalists. With the journalists in prison and no domestic independent media, Eritrea has earned the dubious distinction of being Africa's leading jailer of journalists, as well as one of CPJ's "10 Worst Places to be a Journalist" two years in a row.

Burundi's state regulatory body, the National Communication Council, has lifted the seven-day ban the minister of communications imposed on the private broadcaster, Radio Isanganiro, on 13 September. This allowed the Isanganiro to resume broadcasting last Thursday, Radio Bonesha reported. In response to these developments, Radio Bonesha and another private broadcaster, Radio publique africaine (RPA), ended their boycott on reporting all state functions. They had taken that measure in solidarity with Radio Isanganiro.

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has threatened to shut down privately-owned radio station Capital Radio, accusing it of carrying out an Outside Broadcasting (OB), contrary to the provisions of its licence. Capital Radio had invited political parties to air their rallies live.

The government’s continued closure and more recently, the seizure of the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) equipment using the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) clearly demonstrates the ZANU PF led government’s intolerance of alternative opinion, according to the Media Monitoring Project's latest update.

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has expressed concern over the imprisonment of Ibrahim Souley, editor of the weekly "L'Enquêteur", for exposing embezzlement in the handing out of government contracts. The organisation has called for Souley's immediate release. "We do not understand why the authorities have jailed him, since he was simply doing his job of informing the public, which in no way justifies his imprisonment," said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard.

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has called on the Sudanese authorities to stop harassing the daily "Khartoum Monitor" and allow it to resume publication at once, in line with a recent court decision. The English-language newspaper's publishing licence was cancelled on 12 July 2003, but this decision was struck down on appeal during the week of 8 September, and the National Press Council said the paper could resume publishing.

If you are a mid-level or senior programme manager, social worker, senior government officer or planner, a health care professional, or have an interest in ageing issues, then this course is for you.

HURIDOCS gladly announces the publication of the first volumes in a new series of brief, practical manuals aimed to help build the capacity of human rights organisations with regard to monitoring and documentation. The volumes in this Human Rights Monitoring and Documentation Series are especially designed for small non-governmental human rights organisations which often have limited resources and a small staff who are assigned multiple tasks. The handy size of the manuals makes them excellent reference materials. In addition, they are written in a style that facilitates learning and could serve effectively as materials for training, including individualised and self-initiated learning.

The Bellagio Publishing Network Discussion Forum is an unmoderated mailing list that provides a forum for engaging questions around publishing in the South. It gathers individuals and organisations willing to discuss not just topical issues impacting on publishing, but also strategies and ways for working towards strengthening indigenous publishing and book development in the South. It stresses a critical understanding of the culture(s) of publishing in practice today - be it in its actors, modes of functioning, forms, goals or visions. It will encapsulate the book in current meanings and formats. The Forum encourages contributions from every perspective and persuasion presented in an accessible, frank and educative mode. We appreciate lively debates that share knowledge about the challenges and joys of publishing in the South. To join Bellpubnet, there are two methods. You can either send a blank message to: [email protected] or subscribe online http://www.bellagiopublishingnetwork.org/forum.htm, if you would like to access the messages online (this option requires registration).

President Robert Mugabe's government has refused to issue the licence needed to publish to the Daily News, following the closure of that newspaper last week. By shutting down the country's only privately owned daily publication, the Mugabe regime has struck a blow at the country's struggling free press, which is left with just a couple of independent weekly papers. The Daily News has been shut for the past week and police seized the paper's computers and other equipment in defiance of a high court order that the paper should be allowed to publish.

Africa's information technology promoters from private industry, the media and academia are finding evidence that the continent is overcoming price and infrastructure problems to exploit the Internet as a tool for poverty alleviation, democratisation and development.

The World Forum on Communication Rights will be held on December 11th 2003 alongside the WSIS in Geneva. It is organised by a coalition of civil society organisations. It will highlight key issues that the WSIS has failed to address concerning communication and human rights.

The 16 September 2003 sees the start of Internet Week, which will see industry leaders gathering in Johannesburg to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the Internet, its development and the way in which it can and will change the way that Africa operates. The subjects to be discussed include legal and regulatory issues, the proposed convergence bill, as well as mobile, wireless and broadband multimedia concerns. Other discussions will include a look at open source in South Africa, encryption and spam and virus control.

A camera operator from free-to-air commercial station, e-tv was assaulted and a colleague threatened in an allegedly racial attack in upmarket Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. Lensman, Shabani Ramenu and producer, Debbie Meyer were accosted while out on assignment for current affairs series, Third Degree.

As the world becomes a global village, many people are losing touch with their roots and some can no longer speak their mother tongue. But people who speak Sesotho sa Leboa, more commonly known as Northern Sotho or Sepedi, needn’t fear losing their language: it’s been captured in South Africa’s first online, bilingual Sesotho sa Leboa/English dictionary.

Forty-nine years after the death of his wife, General Kibira Gatu is still a bitter man, thanks to the atrocities committed during the British colonial era. Now aged 68, Gatu, a former guerrilla in Kenya's Mau Mau movement, was fighting to free his country from the yoke of colonialism when British soldiers abducted his wife in 1954. "They took my wife away and killed her, separating her from our one-year-old son," he told IPS this week. Rights activists have accused previous governments of neglecting the war veterans, most of who have been living in desperate conditions. Many have died in absolute poverty.

The organisation Giving and Sharing has the honour of inviting you to the Media Launch of a national awareness campaign highlighting volunteerism and philanthropy in South Africa. Date: 8 October 2003. Time: 10.00am. Venue: The Parktonian All Suite Hotel, 120 de Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The SA Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) has invited Not for Profit Organisations (NPOs) to take part in the first "Drive for Charity", a new initiative to raise funds for struggling NPOs.

The inaugural "Reporting on the Information Society" awards, given jointly by the Global Knowledge Partnership and Panos, aim to encourage and bring to international recognition thoughtful and incisive reporting on developing countries' progress to becoming "Information Societies." Four awards of $2,000 each will be made for published journalism by developing country journalists (print, radio, TV or web) that goes beyond describing projects or new investment initiatives to analyse broader questions such as the social impact of ICTs, particularly on rural or disadvantaged groups, or national and global communication policy issues.

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has called on the Burundian government to immediately end its suspension of Isanganiro radio station for giving air time to anti-government rebels. "This decision deprives people of news and is especially damaging at a time when the country is starting new talks to re-establish peace," said the organisation in its letter to Communications Minister Albert Mbonerane.