“We have reached the point where professionalism in this profession is a crime” (Guezouma Sanogo)

2024-10-21 14:32:00

The Burkinabe press is commemorating, this Monday, October 21, 2024, the 27th edition of the National Press Freedom Day. “Let’s not break the roof: Warning about the death of the journalist”, it is on this theme that this commemoration is aligned.

The rest after this announcement

«We are living in a time when it is not an exaggeration to claim that the situation is serious, and even very serious for the press, and it threatens to disappear. The technological reasons are the appearance of new players and technological innovations, and security with a militia threat that has had a strong impact on the resources of the profession.

And finally, of a political nature with restrictions and attacks on freedom of speech and the press exercised by public authorities», criticized Guezouma Sanogo, president of the steering committee of the National Press Center Norbert Zongo.

Guezouma Sanogo, president of the steering committee of the National Press Center Norbert Zongo

For Guezouma Sanogo, professionalism in the press profession today is a crime. “We have reached the point where professionalism in this profession is a crime. It is the plurality of opinions that fosters magic and underpins all media interest. The Burkinabe press has become sluggish, voiceless or onetonous.

The rate at which we are seeing the destruction of the press is profound. The closure or suspension of the media, the abduction or forced cancellation of journalists and communications, human rights defenders support the importance of freedom of the press, the reform of legal, social and financial achievements, hate speech against journalists, the media and their organizations.“, he cried.

“Don’t break the wall”, the editorial by Norbert Zongo which will now be displayed in the Henri Sebdogo room at the Norbert Zongo National Press Center

Regarding the theme of this edition, the president of the steering committee of the National Press Center Norbert Zongo declared that this theme taken from an editorial by the late emeritus journalist Norbert Zongo is timely in light of the national situation.

«That’s why we chose to use a message that is as old as it is up to date to reflect the current situation and raise awareness. We cannot adequately describe our illnesses in our own words. It was appropriate for us to illustrate the context with the words of a monument of the national press, a symbol, a media man who met all Burkinabè or who will meet in one way or another through the immortality of his thinking. We are obviously talking about Norbert Zongo“, he clarified.

Guezouma Sanogo hopes that the timeliness of this editorial and the quality of its author will touch the hearts of the Burkinabè people in general and the national authorities in particular without breaking the roof of the press.

Report on the State of Liberty of the press in Burkina Faso also after its presentation last May. This report gives a score of 1.96 out of 4 in Burkina Faso, one of the worst scores since Norbert Zongo’s national press center was there.

Moussa Sawadogo, journalist and consultant

« I would like to remind you that the final document here takes what was presented on May 3rd. So, this is not a new study. This is the final version. I mention this because at the time, there was a lot of controversy around it. We worked, according to a certain methodology, although I am before you today as the main reporter.

It is collegial work done with a group of staff and experts. This is how we called the panel of experts, where there were journalists, Fir na Ceart. Even the ministry had been invited, the High Communications Council had been invited. So, this is not just something done in secret between journalists. So today that the document is there, the result is the same “, said Moussa Sawadogo, journalist and consultant.

Willy SAGBE

Soumaïla MALO (Intern)

Burkina 24

❤️ An invitation
We would like to thank you for your interest in our media. You can now follow our WhatsApp channel by clicking on: Follow the channel

Stay tuned for all the latest information!

notice

notice