South African editors campaign against information bill

South African editors have launched a campaign against the Protection of Information Bill, which they say will keep government contracts or documents produced by state-owned enterprises, secret. According to an Associated Press story, relayed by journalism.co.uk, the South African National Editors Forum declared in a statement signed by 36 editors that free expression is the "lifeblood" of South Africa.

As part of a continuing campaign against the introduction of the bill as law, one newspaper even reportedly started running notices next to its stories telling readers "you would not be reading this story" if the law was passed.

Concerns over government control of the media were heightened last week after the arrest of South African journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika, following his work investigating alleged corruption by officials.