In his opening remarks in the plenary hall, International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, president, Jim Boumelha said African journalists were pursuing the advocacy strategy at a time when journalists and media workers continued to be targeted around the continent.
The conference began amid reports from Somalia indicating that a journalist had been assassinated while on duty.
Journalists are being targeted around the world as never before and Africa is no exception, whether by shadowy assassins acting as censors for police states or criminals or by armed militias or regular armies, in cross fire and in conflicts.
Violence, said Boumelha, was a threat to press freedom.
We all know that there is no greater threat to press freedom than violence committed against journalists. We all know too well how violence or the threat of violence or even the creation of a climate of violence around journalists work can cow or frighten off or, in extreme cases, silence reporters for ever.
Such an environment was a threat to democracy, added Boumelha.
Journalism is the oxygen of democracy and development, and killing a journalist is the ultimate form of censorship.
The Federation of African Journalists, FAJ, the continental federation for unions and associations representing journalists on the African continent organised the meeting together with the African Union Commission and the Trades Union Congress.
Omar Faruk Usman Nur, the FAJ president told The Zimbabwean that it was critical for African governments to come up with measures to protect journalists
Journalists are merely professional messengers carrying the messages of what is happening around the world and we would want to encourage African governments to make the protection of African journalists their top priority, said Faruk.
The Ethiopian government, through its minister of information, Simon Bereket, pledged safety for journalists although it is one of the states whose treatment of journalists has raised major concerns among journalists in Africa and throughout the world.
We are fully aware that press freedom is inseparably linked with the safety and protection of individual journalists, said the information minister.
Norman Ling, the British ambassador to Addis Ababa and permanent representative to the African Union said it was important for African journalists to provide quality journalism.
Good journalism leads to good policies if governments will only listen to the freely expressed views of their citizens. An open and professional media breeds tolerance and respect.
He said African governments could play a crucial role in the protection of journalists.
In many African countries, there is also a need for further legal, policy and institutional reforms to reinforce media freedom and to prevent government interference and censorship. But although many welcome these opportunities, there are some who feel threatened by the new media freedom.
Journalists need to be trained to ensure reports are correctly sourced and reflect both sides of a story. And independent regulatory bodies should be established to ensure journalism reaches the highest possible standards, said Ling.
African Union Commission chairperson, Jean Ping, who is in attendance said it was possible to establish an African tribunal which would among other issues deal with issues related to the abuse of journalists and media workers.
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