Zim journalists launch independent media project

Under fire Zimbabwean journalists, made jobless by the forced closures of three mainstream newspapers in their country, have teamed up to publish a new daily online newspaper called the Zim Online.

The ZimOnline is distributed via the internet and started operating this weekend. Apart from being a web-based daily newspaper, the ZimOnline will also operate as a news agency, the Zimbabwe News Service, to provide other African newspapers with stories on Zimbabwe for re-publishing.The project is registered in South Africa since it cannot legally operate from Zimbabwe where draconian media and security laws are being used to clamp down on the media.A spokesman for the project, Daniel Malokela, a prominent Zimbabwean lawyer based in South Africa, said news gathering would however be done in Zimbabwe, while the distribution of stories would be handled in South Africa.”We hope this project cam help fill the vast information vacuum left by the banning of independent newspapers and the expulsion of all foreign correspondents from Zimbabwe,” said Malokela.”Seasoned Zimbabwean journalists will tell the other side of the Zimbabwe story which the Harare government is trying to suppress.”He said the project was targeting those best placed to influence positive change in Zimbabwe – the African community.”Too many Africans have so far remained indifferent to the Zimbabwe crisis and unaware of its real causes and victims, partly because of the Harare government’s robust propaganda,” he said.”In addition, Zim Online will serve the Zimbabwean exile community as a reliable source of information from home, and provide those living in the country with an alternative to the state controlled media,” he said.Zim Online will be a professional service adhering to journalistic standards such as accuracy, balance and fairness.Even though the Zimbabwe government continues its clampdown on the media rendering news gathering difficult, every possible effort will be made to ensure professionalism.Molokela said News editors of African newspapers are encouraged to have a look at the service and reproduce whatever they like (with credit) – to help Zim Online in spreading the real Zimbabwe story.- www.zimonline.co.zaApart from being a web-based daily newspaper, the ZimOnline will also operate as a news agency, the Zimbabwe News Service, to provide other African newspapers with stories on Zimbabwe for re-publishing.The project is registered in South Africa since it cannot legally operate from Zimbabwe where draconian media and security laws are being used to clamp down on the media.A spokesman for the project, Daniel Malokela, a prominent Zimbabwean lawyer based in South Africa, said news gathering would however be done in Zimbabwe, while the distribution of stories would be handled in South Africa.”We hope this project cam help fill the vast information vacuum left by the banning of independent newspapers and the expulsion of all foreign correspondents from Zimbabwe,” said Malokela.”Seasoned Zimbabwean journalists will tell the other side of the Zimbabwe story which the Harare government is trying to suppress.”He said the project was targeting those best placed to influence positive change in Zimbabwe – the African community.”Too many Africans have so far remained indifferent to the Zimbabwe crisis and unaware of its real causes and victims, partly because of the Harare government’s robust propaganda,” he said.”In addition, Zim Online will serve the Zimbabwean exile community as a reliable source of information from home, and provide those living in the country with an alternative to the state controlled media,” he said.Zim Online will be a professional service adhering to journalistic standards such as accuracy, balance and fairness.Even though the Zimbabwe government continues its clampdown on the media rendering news gathering difficult, every possible effort will be made to ensure professionalism.Molokela said News editors of African newspapers are encouraged to have a look at the service and reproduce whatever they like (with credit) – to help Zim Online in spreading the real Zimbabwe story.- www.zimonline.co.za