Thursday, May 11, 2006
ZANZIBAR — NABJ has a long and proud history of no presidential drive-by visits to its convention. If a president of the United States is uncomfortable taking questions from its members, the invitation is withdrawn.
On Thursday, NABJ President Bryan Monroe faced a similar situation, albeit thousands of miles from home.
While in Zanzibar, Monroe was informed minutes before a scheduled meeting with President Karume that the visit was merely a courtesy call and the team of NABJ members will not be allowed to ask questions after the president welcomed the group. Monroe’s response was immediate: the visit was off.
“We are a group of journalists. How could we visit the president and not ask questions?’’ Monroe said.
A quick huddle ensued with organizers of the visit, U.N. officials and presidential aides. Fifteen minutes later, the visit was back on. Questions will be allowed.
When the delegation met Karume, he seemed at ease and the discussion showed that he was a master of what Zanzibar was doing and what the international community must do in order to control malaria on the island and throughout Africa. We wondered whether the “no questions rule’’ was a directive from Karume or overprotective aides.
It was the first of two incidents Thursday that showed the value of NABJ members sticking together and staying true to the organization’s principles.
At the end of the visit, as the delegation was ready to leave Zanzibar, the airline told team leaders that one person would have to remain on the island overnight because there were no more seats on the plane. This, despite the fact that seats for everyone had been confirmed just a few hours before.
Monroe put up a united front: If one person gets left, no one from the team will board the flight. Airline officials huddled. Ten minutes later, they found a seat. Everyone boarded the flight together.
Whether at home or abroad, NABJ is not afraid to speak truth to power.
— John Yearwood, Miami Herald
Keith Hadley/Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NABJ President Bryan Monroe meets with Zanzibari President Amani Abeid Karume during an official visit.
