This past month a new media portal has been launched for Zimbabwean journalists struggling to be emancipated from one-man politics. The new website, which is run out of the United States, Media in Zimbabwe (MIZ) was created by a senior Zimbabwean editor as a counterpart to the three-year old blog, Zimbjournalists Arise.
MIZ has timely entered the media scene. “As things stand a few weeks after the election, the bloodshed continues and according to those on the ground it is in fact intensifying. There are rumours of a hit list which includes journalists and many of them are on the run,” said MIZ editor to RAP 21.
"Both the private and government media need to have their mindsets freed from partisanship and polarisation to become a more objective impartial free media,” said MIZ editor. To this end, the new website aims to help both the private and state-run media in Zimbabwe.
“We are essentially a tool for journalists,” said MIZ editor. “Even state media workers are part of the website’s plans because we realize that although they may be used by the regime to churn out propaganda, most of them are not doing so willingly but are doing it to survive,” said MIZ editor.
Still in its nascence, the website received about 300 hits in the last month. “We think this is pretty good in view that we are a specialist website,” said MIZ editor. Readers can engage in debate on all media related issues from development to press freedom violations. Information on trainings, fellowships and media organizations is also publicized.
“We need to do more to penetrate Zimbabwe to benefit journalists on the ground, whom the website is meant for,” MIZ editor continued. However, funding has posed difficulties. “[It] is hampering our operation, as the web is strictly voluntary and non-profit,” said MIZ editor.
Also, “because of the anonymous nature of the website people are a bit sceptical on who they are dealing with,” said MIZ editor. Last year the blog’s old email was hacked into. MIZ editor said, “we foresee possible problems again as we take the website inside Zimbabwe after we launch a full marketing programme.”
As Media in Zimbabwe takes off, another prominent Zimbabwean website, The Zimbabwe Times, also based in the United States, has been targeted by government tactics that hinder the flow of independent news. Starting on 10 July The Zimbabwe Times, which was launched by Geoffrey Nyarota in 2006, has experienced several downtimes that have appeared to be malevolent Denial of Service (DOS) attacks. New measures have been implemented to screen incoming malicious scripts without filtering content by the editorial team. Such strategies are shared by MIZ with other Zimbabwean journalists and editors facing similar attacks.
To visit the Media in Zimbabwe website please visit: http://mediainzimbabwe.com/