Adam Bemma

  • Myanmar’s ‘Peacock Generation’ silenced as political prisoners being politicized

    Three Burmese men wearing traditional blue longyis shackled at the waist and feet carefully step down, one after the other, from a police truck in Ayeyarwady Region – 84 kms from the commercial capital, Yangon. Armed officers lead Zayar Lwin, Paing Ye Thu and Paing Phyo Min into a courthouse. The three are members of…

    Adam Bemma

  • ‘I used to talk about politics on Facebook, but now it’s scary’

    As Cambodian critics are targeted online, an offline forum provides space to discuss issues such as a cybercrime law. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Samoeurth Seavmeng sits at a conference table wearing black horn-rimmed glasses. Meng – as she’s known online and to friends – glances at her smartphone and begins to speak to 10 other…

    Adam Bemma

  • Ethiopia’s “Terrorist” Journalists and Bloggers

    NAIROBI, Kenya – A cursory glance at the headlines shows that Ethiopia has one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. But the noise generated by the hyperbolic international media is drowning out the critical voices. Political opposition is being strangled by the authorities as activists and journalists are arrested and thrown into jail at a dizzying…

    Adam Bemma

  • Kenya: A Case of Media Mentorship in Africa’s Largest Slum

    “The mentoring culture needs to come back to our newsrooms,” said Ernest Sungura, executive director at Tanzania Media Fund, while addressing journalists at the World Press Freedom Day Conference in Arusha May 3. The theme of this year’s Arusha conference was Media Freedom for Good Governance and Development. I would argue mentorship needs to be taken…

    Adam Bemma

  • Stop Muzzling the Press in East Africa

    World Press Freedom Day is every May 3. The theme of this year’s WPFD, hosted by UNESCO, is Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda. In Arusha, Tanzania, journalists and media stakeholders from around East Africa will convene May 2-3, 2014 at the Arusha International Conference Centre. This year’s theme is…

    Adam Bemma

  • Journalists for Human Rights Face New Challenge in East Africa

    Years of experience working with journalists in West Africa could not prepare Canada’s media development organization, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), with what would happen next in East Africa. Written by a former JHR Tanzania media trainer. ARUSHA, Tanzania – Canadian journalist Chris Oke never thought when he accepted a position at Journalists for Human…

    Adam Bemma

  • #PressFreedom in 2013: An Overview

    211 journalists were jailed worldwide in 2013, following the highest number ever recorded the previous year: 232, says the press freedom group Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ. These statistics prove the state of press freedom around the world has deteriorated quite drastically over these last two years. Three countries: Turkey, Iran and China, account…

    Adam Bemma

  • The New Payola: Brown Envelope Journalism in Africa

    Payola is a bribery scheme made infamous in the American music industry, paying radio station disc jockeys to put particular songs on the airwaves to gain popularity and, ultimately, sell records. This ethical violation and illegal practice was put to an end many years ago in North America. Across Africa, the idea to be payed…

    Adam Bemma

  • From Accra to Arusha: A journalist’s journey across Africa

    Okay, I know it’s cliche to travel to Africa and expect to launch my career as an international journalist. But, hey, if it worked out for so many others, why not give it a try? Of course I spent six months backpacking and not a lot of time actually doing my journalism. Throughout my travels…

    Adam Bemma
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