Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism to host African journalist as visiting lecturer

Pius Njawe, editor-in-chief of Cameroon's independent newspaper Le Messager and one of Africa's most outspoken activists for press freedom, will be this spring's guest lecturer in UNT's Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism.

Njawe founded Le Messager in 1979. At 22, he was the nation's youngest newspaper owner.

In November 1992, Cameroon president Paul Biya shut down Le Messager. Receiving threats on his life, Njawe fled to nearby Benin. There, he launched the newspaper Le Messagère.

Although accused of various crimes, Njawe returned to Douala, Cameroon, in 1993 where he founded the Cameroon Organization for Press Freedom. He is also president of the Central Africa Press Editors' Union and a member of the UNESCO Consultative Group on Press Freedom and Reporters Without Frontiers.

Arrested more than 30 times since 1990, Njawe has been imprisoned three times for reports he made on Biya and Douala's chief of police.

In December 1997, he was accused of "spreading false news" in an article that reported Biya might have suffered a heart attack. He shared a dungeonlike cell for 10 months with more than 100 others - most convicted of robbery, murder and other felonies.Pressure from local and international press freedom organizations led to Njawe's pardon and release.

In May 2000, the International Press Institute selected him as one of 50 World Press Freedom Heroes for "his selfless and fearless pursuit of truth on behalf of the people, even in the face of censorship, deprivation, imprisonment and the threat of death."At

At UNT, Njawe will teach African Media Development with Mitch Land, associate professor of journalism and Mayborn Institute director. He will give several public lectures.

BY NANCY KOLSTI nkolsti@unt.edu

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