Ethiopian police have arrested Reuters journalist Kumerra Gemechu. I know Kumerra and he is an excellent and professional journalist who has worked for Reuters as a cameraman for 10 years. No reason has been given for his arrest. uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eth…
Per Reuters: "Around 10 armed federal police officers arrived at Kumerra’s home ... and took him away in handcuffs in front of his wife and three children, his wife Hawi Desalegn said. She added that his eldest daughter, who is 10, clung to him screaming as he was led away."
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018 promising, as part of a wave of reforms, freedom of expression in Ethiopia. Yet, according to CPJ's annual census of jailed journalists carried out on Dec. 1, there were at least seven journalists jailed there.
CPJ, as quoted in Reuters piece above, say Kumerra’s arrest is “the latest example of how press freedom is fast eroding under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed after a short-lived hope of reform.”
Watched this live last night. @BobbyKGreen’s raw reaction to the execution of Navid Afkari in Iran was incredibly moving and his ending the interview at that point the appropriate response.
This is where strict adherence to impassive reporting utterly fails. It is deeply strange and unsettling to watch. Journalists should be aware of how their very presence can frame or even change what they are reporting on. Following and pointing from a large safe boat? Really?
Arguably, this sort of oddly detached reporting actually helps to dehumanise people who are fleeing desperate situations - it plays into the very goal of far right rabble-rousers and associated media. As a profession, we should do better.
You know those days when you don’t expect rain and then you’re walking for the bus and it starts to absolutely f’ing bucket down? And you’re not dressed for it. And all you have is a crappy $3 umbrella and as you fumble to open it maybe you drop your phone and smash the screen.
And maybe you set off trotting, almost jogging, for the bus and the umbrella inevitably blows inside out and you think, “Why do I always buy these shitty ones?” as you try to shove it into a bin while the rain snakes down your back and your clothes start sticking to your body.
Maybe you’re running now, already splashing puddles up so that the water is making your socks damp, and a car goes by and up comes that dirty stinking wave from the side of the road. And then you see the bus and maybe you can just .... just make it.