Journalism Is Not Dying; Our Practice Is
Image/Pexels.com I write this opinion piece with a heavy heart. Two burdens weigh on me: a tragic incident that took lives, shattered families, and caused destruction in Bujumbura—and the alarming decline in reporting standards I witnessed across the Great Lakes region. How It Unfolded At around 6:30 p.m., an explosion ripped through downtown Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital. I had been waiting for a friend near the Chinese-owned T-2000 shopping complex. Minutes later, as I got into his car, we heard a deafening blast. Those on higher floors likely felt it more intensely. People began fleeing from nearby multi-storey buildings. Panic spread instantly. We first assumed a gas explosion. We asked around, but no one spoke. Fear had sealed every mouth. We drove off as the situation deteriorated. Hundreds ran in all directions. Cars defied traffic rules, horns blared, people shouted, and drivers mounted one-way streets. Chaos took over. We stopped again. Someone pointed...