What was happening in francophone Africa at that time? France was preparing to organise a referendum in her colonies through which a large majority of her overseas territories, with the notable exception of Guinea, would decide to remain attached to the “motherland”. Based on extensive interviews, the author shows the extent to which Burundian journalists have lost self-confidence and trust in their ability to perform their professional ethos and the role they believe they should play in society.įifty years ago, in 1957, Ghana gained its independence. This article identifies how the professional identity of the journalists has been affected by these two phenomena: the challenges of working from abroad as well as the growing control on free media faced by those still operating from within the country.
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Shown as a model of 'professionalism', 'independence' and 'pluralism' until then, journalism in Burundi has subsequently faced huge challenges, both inside the country (where the space for free speech keeps shrinking despite a pluralist façade) and outside (where Burundian journalists in exile have established alternative media). Their outlets were damaged and forbidden to operate. More than 80 journalists, some of them accused of being accomplices to the putschists, were threatened and forced to leave the country.
In Burundi, a small landlocked post-conflict country in Central Africa, the independent broadcasting sector was severely undermined in May 2015, following a coup attempt against the regime of President Pierre Nkurunziza.
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