Zecharias Zelalem
Re-upping this on all my platforms, because we cannot tone down our condemnation of this unprecedented slaughter of journalists.
The apathy & indifference in Israel's killing of Palestinian media professionals (130 since 7/10/23 per the IFJ), including among many prominent journalists, is a chilling indictment of our industry as a whole.
Incredibly disturbed by the silence of friends and colleagues & those who cited "objectivity" for it. It has truly been an eye-opening year for journalism.
Zecharias Zelalem
The argument among many in journalism for muted stances is that journalism ethics requires us to refrain from engagement in activism of all kinds.
But this is actually a western social construct.
Journalism doctrine in Africa leaves space for a huge exception: press freedom advocacy related activism. It's due to the repression often encountered while working on the continent: if journos don't speak up for journos, no one else will.
Silence when journalists are killed is what is unethical.
Zecharias Zelalem
Last year, ~1,500 journalists including myself, signed this open letter condemning Israel's killing of countless Palestinian journalists, as well as misleading framing of atrocities in Gaza as a whole.
In response, plenty of major newsrooms lashed out at their employees, forcing them to withdraw their signatures. Others signed on anonymously, fearing repercussions. All in all, the sentiments of shock and horror were not shared by everyone in journalism.
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