Data journalism is the new frontier

In: Index on censorship, Band 43, Heft 3

Abstract

The democratic government wrote freedom of information into the constitution in reaction to apartheid censorship, yet it remains constantly under threat. The Protection of State Information Bill, known as the 'secrecy bill', has also been a point of contention since 2010. The aim was to regulate state information, weighing state interests against transparency and freedom of expression, but it would have surely restricted journalists, and proposed jail terms for reporters and whistleblowers that revealed classified information. It was approved by parliament in 2013, but has still not yet passed into law. Here, Saba talks about why the government ignored, belittled or taken for granted the freedom of information. Adapted from the source document.