For democracy to thrive, a country’s citizens must be able to freely express themselves in the news media. But the media also have responsibilities. Recently, some governments in Africa have stifled newspapers and broadcast stations, accusing them of crossing the line. VOA Host Vincent Makori discussed the importance of a free press and the links between civil society and democracy with his guests: The Honorable Koigi Wamwere, Kenya’s Assistant Minister of Information; Dr. Karin Deutsch Karlekar, a Senior Researcher for Freedom House in New York; and Jeffrey Carlson, a Program Specialist at IFES, an international nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C. dedicated to building democratic societies.
For more than a decade, Africa Journal has combined expert analysis, studio discussion, news features and comments from viewers for an hour of lively discussion and debate about Africa. Journalists and viewers are welcome to join in the discussion and ask questions.
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Originally published at https://www.insidevoa.com/a/a-13-34-2006-03-08-aj-9march-111607709/178074.html
