The date was chosen due to the fact that on September 8, 1943, the Nazis executed the Czechoslovakian journalist and literary critic Julius Fucik in Berlin. While in prison, he wrote a book "Notes from the Gallows", for which he was posthumously awarded the International Peace Prize in 1950. After his death, the book was translated into 70 languages.
The job of a journalist entails considerable danger, as every year in nearly every corner of the planet they are subjected to attacks that often end in fatalities.
In honor of the observance, African journalists shared greetings to their professional colleagues and their views on the value of journalism with Sputnik Africa.
A journalist's profession carries with it challenges such as harassment, censorship and threats, said Zinziswa Mani, a researcher and producer from South Africa. In this regard, Mani expressed respect for reporters who "dare to ask the tough questions, challenge the status quo" and keep the world informed in an even-handed manner.
"Your work is very essential and your courage is very much inspiring. On this day, let us reflect on the importance of a free press, one that's independent and unbiased," Mani remarked.
He was echoed by Nqobile Tshili, a Zimbabwean journalist with the Chronicle, who noted that because of the many challenges faced by reporters, their work should be encouraged by society at large.
"Journalists don't exist in a vacuum. They are a conduit to society and they inform the society. So everyone needs to support journalists as they do their job," Tshili stressed.
Speaking about the objectives of African journalism, the continent's reporters told Sputnik Africa that the aims include building solidarity between people of the profession from different African nations.
Tebogo Mokoto, radio host at GABZFM, Botswana, said that the continent must speak with one voice in the media, "telling the international community Africa's story from the African perspective." The radio host added that African journalists should build up solidarity with international reporters.
"I think then we need to move towards making sure that solidarity between African journalists and international journalists is also strengthened in order to make sure that nothing divides the journalists and the ethics of journalists stay intact in terms of us telling the global story," Mokoto pointed out.
Another challenge for African journalists is to break stereotypes about the continent and focus on correct and positive news, Manny Anyango, a digital journalist at The Star, Kenya, told Sputnik Africa.
The journalist cited the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya, which took place from September 4 to 6, where President Ruto said that although Africa has "really been portrayed as a continent of hunger, diseases, floods," in reality the continent has vast resources and tourist destinations.
"So he said that Africa really is the future and when Africa loses the world loses. So right now, as journalists really need to focus more on the positive, and report Africa correctly, and positively and just say what it is and what's there," Anyango concluded.
At the second Russia-Africa Summit held in St. Petersburg in July, Sputnik signed five documents on cooperation with leading media outlets on the African continent – Gambia News Agency, APS (Senegal), Mauritania's AMP, as well as media groups Radio Africa Group from Kenya and New Vision from Uganda.