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Patriotic journalism vs watchdog journalism: Navigating the thin line of truth

Nkhoma PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Nkhoma PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

When journalists navigate sensitive information, they confront a fundamental dilemma - how to balance national loyalty with the duty to hold power accountable. In Botswana, this tension is often compounded by the invocation of the National Security Act, which can limit investigative reporting and chill journalistic freedom, writes THOMAS THOS NKHOMA*

In April 1961, the world watched in disbelief as a small fleet of exiled Cubans, backed by the United States, attempted to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The mission ended in disaster, hundreds were captured and the US military suffered a humiliating defeat.

In the aftermath, President John F. Kennedy accused the American press of failing to report a leak about the operation, suggesting that, had journalists informed the public, it might have spared the army both embarrassment and unnecessary loss of life.

Editor's Comment
Our digital safety is in our hands

That sounds like good news. But the report also warns that this may simply be because our digital economy is still young, not because we are safe. As more people shop, bank and pay online, criminals will follow.We Batswana do not need a report to tell us that danger is real. Many of us have heard of or fallen victim to KYC scams. A caller impersonates your bank or mobile money provider. They say they need to “verify” your account. They ask...

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