Ethnics in the media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethnics in the media - Essay Example Moreover, these internal conflicts had become very severe over a period of seventeen years (National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)). The Somali journalists were subjected to violent attacks constantly, and the perpetrators of such violence were granted immunity. In fact, none of the perpetrators of crime against journalists had been prosecuted in Somaliland. There were several persons who had perpetrated attacks against journalists and media persons. They included officials of the Transitional Federal Government, rebel leaders, the opposition and gangsters. All these entities invented novel methods of violence to suppress the media and to prevent news coverage by journalists. They had cautioned the press and asked it to refrain from publishing or broadcasting information and policies (National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)). Journalists had to work in a very dangerous and hostile environment. They were abused in several ways, and directed to abstain from exposing the facts to the public. The Transitional Federal Government had imposed various restrictions on the freedom of press and the electronic media in the capital city. The Somaliland government had closed down five private radio stations that were based in the capital city. Furthermore, the Regional Administration of Banadir had enacted restrictive laws, which aimed at curbing the freedom of press and media (National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)). There were several incidents, wherein the police had conducted illegal raids on the offices of newspapers in Somaliland. In one particular incident, the police and officials from the Criminal Investigation Department raided the offices of the Haatuf Daily Newspaper, based in Hargeisa. After this raid, they took Yusuf Abdi Gabobe, Director of Haatuf Media Network into custody, along with several other journalists. The police and CID officials also arrested Ali Abdi Dini, Editor-in-Chief of Haatuf Daily Newspaper and its treasurer,