Overview

In 2009, Anjan Sundaram began a journalist's training program in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Often held up as a beacon of progress and modernity in Central Africa, the regime of President Paul Kagame—which took over after the 1994 genocide ravaged Rwanda’s population—has been given billions of dollars in Western aid. And yet, during Sundaram’s time there, almost every reporter he instructed was arrested or forced to leave the country, caught in a tightening web of strict media control. With Bad News, Sundaram offers an incredible firsthand look at the rise of dictatorship and the fall of free speech, one that’s important to understand not just for its implications in Rwanda, but for any country threatened by demands to adopt a single way of thinking.  

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9781101872154

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Reviews

Praise for Bad News Bad News coverage of Rwanda is a true uncovering. Sundaram s extraordinary reporting returns political stakes to literary ambition, reminding us that writing always participates in political life.... When we write, we celebrate the strange turn by which a word s pinning of feeling and fact is not limitation but announcement of release. Denied this release, a country finds itself denied a public record and public life. Megha Majumdar, LitHub During Sundaram s time in Rwanda, almost every major journalist he trained was either arrested or forced to flee the country. One writer who hadn t yet joined the program was killed. Everyone else was so intimidated as to have been effectively silenced. The country was full of media dutifully spreading Kagame s propaganda, but as far as Sundaram was concerned, real reporters were an endangered species. Jordan Teicher, Los Angeles Review of Books Bad News: Last Journalists in a Dictatorship lead[s] the reader to a heightened recognition of how fear can be used to seep into any society, subtly at first, and then malignantly transformative. Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Writing of his experience running a journalists training program in Kigali, Rwanda, Sundaram captures the quiet menace of his surroundings: The wide roads indicate progress but are in fact devoid of any life. The people scurry out of the perfectly sculpted streetlights sodium-vapor glare, afraid of attracting attention. And the bombs are immediately hushed up by the government, too quickly for anyone to notice, let alone write about in a newspaper....Sundaram s expose is courageous and heartfelt. Aditi Sriram, Washington Post Spotlight, the film about the Boston Globe s reporting on sexual predators in theCatholic Church, has recently reminded us about the importance of investigative journalism but Sundaram s relatively unheralded new book is an equally important cultural document. Bad News is a searing illustration of the dangers associated with newsgathering in an authoritarian state, and a paean to those courageous enough to practice it in such dire circumstances. Kevin Canfield, San Francisco Chronicle Few people have suffered the hideous fate of Rwandans in the modern era.It is shocking, painful beyond words, to see the darkness settling again in a dystopia that is crushing free expression and individual lives.This searing, evocative account, focusing on young journalists struggling to gain the rights they so richly deserve, provides insights about the human condition that reach far beyond the tragic story of Rwanda. Noam Chomsky Once in a while, a book comes along with the potential to alter our understanding of a place and its history. Anjan Sundaram s Bad News: The Last Journalists in a Dictatorship, which exposes the repression endured in one of the world s poorest countries, is one such work. There has been plenty written about post-conflict society, but in the case of Rwanda, we rarely get such a cogent view of life inside an oppressive state bent on controlling the public narrative....Make no mistake about it: there is a war going on against legitimate journalism the world over. Oppressive regimes and their PR firms are winning that war. But with Bad News, Sundaram boldly strikes back at the powers that be and his aim is true. Sundaram has pulled back a weighty veil and exposed layers of manipulation that are for most of us almost impossible to see. African Arguments Sundaram's insights are harrowing, his narrative fast paced and immediate. Financial Times Powerful and shocking memoir... a damning indictment not only of the Rwandan regime, but also the western governments and agencies that have failed to question its practices. Sunday Times (UK) Anjan Sundaram is a keen observer and a fine writer. In Bad News, he has rendered a chilling chronicle of the creeping totalitarianism taking hold in Rwanda that is as disturbing as it is unforgettable. Jon Lee Anderson A superb expose of a dictatorship... an important book... a desolate work, taut prose describing the stifling atmosphere of a nation trapped in fear. The Observer (UK) An unsettling account of journalists under fire . Foreign Affairs This is an important book for students of political science, modern history, and journalism. Publishers Weekly A powerful account of a nation 20 years later, still tryingto recover from shocking genocide. Booklist Sundaram's talents show in his creation of an atmosphere of paranoia and dread....A chilling account of reporters in danger that heightens awareness of the importance of a free press. Kirkus Reviews From the Hardcover edition.

A searing illustration of the dangers associated with newsgathering in an authoritarian state, and a paean to those courageous enough to practice it in such dire circumstances. <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i> This evocative account, focusing on young journalists struggling to gain the rights they so richly deserve, provides insights about the human condition that reach far beyond the tragic story of Rwanda. Noam Chomsky Superb.... It is nothing less than the best book written about Rwanda by an outsider, a massively important contribution to understanding what is one of Africa's most important, inscrutable, regimes. Richard Poplack, <i>Africa in Fact</i> Courageous and heartfelt. <i>The</i> <i>Washington Post</i><i> </i>[A] recognition of how fear can be used to seep into any society, subtly at first, and then malignantly transformative. <i>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</i> An unsettling account of journalists under fire . <i>Foreign Affairs</i> Once in a while, a book comes along with the potential to alter our understanding of a place and its history. Anjan Sundaram s<i>Bad News: The Last Journalists in a Dictatorship</i>, which exposes the repression endured in one of the world s poorest countries, is one such work. . . . Make no mistake about it: there is a war going on against legitimate journalism the world over. . . . With <i>Bad News</i>, Sundaram boldly strikes back at the powers that be and his aim is true. Sundaram has pulled back a weighty veil and exposed layers of manipulation that are for most of us almost impossible to see. <i>African Arguments</i> Sundaram's insights are harrowing, his narrative fast paced and immediate. <i>Financial Times</i> Superb. Anjan Sundaram is one of the finest writers of reportage and non-fiction we have. Here he explores the mechanics and psychology of dictactorship in genocide-haunted Rwanda. Why the West continues to support this regime is one of many important questions he raises. Richard Grant, author of <i>Dispatches from Pluto </i> <i>Bad News</i> coverage of Rwanda is a true uncovering. Sundaram s extraordinary reporting returns political stakes to literary ambition, reminding us that writing always participates in political life. <i>LitHub</i> A superb expose of a dictatorship <i>The Observer</i>(London) Powerful and shocking. . . . A damning indictment not only of the Rwandan regime, but also the western governments and agencies that have failed to question its practices. <i>The Times</i> (London) An important book for students of political science, modern history, and journalism. <i>Publishers Weekly</i> Anjan Sundaram is a keen observer and a fine writer. In <i>Bad News</i>, he has rendered a chilling chronicle of the creeping totalitarianism taking hold in Rwanda that is as disturbing as it is unforgettable. Jon Lee Anderson, author of <i>Che Guevara </i> A chilling account of reporters in danger that heightens awareness of the importance of a free press. <i>Kirkus Reviews</i> One of the finest works of reportage in living memory. <i>The Australian </i> <i>Bad News </i>is an attempt to shed light on a side of Rwanda hidden to most foreigners, but also a memorial to those who give their lives, well-being and even their sanity to the cause of free speech. <i>Shelf Awareness</i>

A searing illustration of the dangers associated with newsgathering in an authoritarian state, and a paean to those courageous enough to practice it in such dire circumstances. <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i> This evocative account, focusing on young journalists struggling to gain the rights they so richly deserve, provides insights about the human condition that reach far beyond the tragic story of Rwanda. Noam Chomsky Courageous and heartfelt. <i>The</i> <i>Washington Post</i> <i> </i>[A] recognition of how fear can be used to seep into any society, subtly at first, and then malignantly transformative. <i>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</i> An unsettling account of journalists under fire . <i>Foreign Affairs</i> Once in a while, a book comes along with the potential to alter our understanding of a place and its history. Anjan Sundaram s<i>Bad News: The Last Journalists in a Dictatorship</i>, which exposes the repression endured in one of the world s poorest countries, is one such work. . . . Make no mistake about it: there is a war going on against legitimate journalism the world over. . . . With <i>Bad News</i>, Sundaram boldly strikes back at the powers that be and his aim is true. Sundaram has pulled back a weighty veil and exposed layers of manipulation that are for most of us almost impossible to see. <i>African Arguments</i> Sundaram's insights are harrowing, his narrative fast paced and immediate. <i>Financial Times</i> Superb. Anjan Sundaram is one of the finest writers of reportage and non-fiction we have. Here he explores the mechanics and psychology of dictactorship in genocide-haunted Rwanda. Why the West continues to support this regime is one of many important questions he raises. Richard Grant, author of <i>Dispatches from Pluto </i> <i>Bad News</i> coverage of Rwanda is a true uncovering. Sundaram s extraordinary reporting returns political stakes to literary ambition, reminding us that writing always participates in political life. <i>LitHub</i> A superb expose of a dictatorship <i>The Observer</i>(London) Powerful and shocking. . . . A damning indictment not only of the Rwandan regime, but also the western governments and agencies that have failed to question its practices. <i>The Times</i> (London) An important book for students of political science, modern history, and journalism. <i>Publishers Weekly</i> Anjan Sundaram is a keen observer and a fine writer. In <i>Bad News</i>, he has rendered a chilling chronicle of the creeping totalitarianism taking hold in Rwanda that is as disturbing as it is unforgettable. Jon Lee Anderson, author of <i>Che Guevara </i> A chilling account of reporters in danger that heightens awareness of the importance of a free press. <i>Kirkus Reviews</i> One of the finest works of reportage in living memory. <i>The Australian </i> <i>Bad News </i>is an attempt to shed light on a side of Rwanda hidden to most foreigners, but also a memorial to those who give their lives, well-being and even their sanity to the cause of free speech. <i>Shelf Awareness</i>

A Finalist for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction Shortlisted for the Moore Prize for Non-Fiction Literature It is nothing less than the best book written about Rwanda by an outsider, a massively important contribution to understanding what is one of Africa's most important, inscrutable, regimes. --Richard Poplak, All Africa A searing illustration of the dangers associated with newsgathering in an authoritarian state, and a paean to those courageous enough to practice it in such dire circumstances. --San Francisco Chronicle This ... evocative account, focusing on young journalists struggling to gain the rights they so richly deserve, provides insights about the human condition that reach far beyond the tragic story of Rwanda. --Noam Chomsky Superb. --Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch Courageous and heartfelt. --The Washington Post [A] recognition of how fear can be used to seep into any society, subtly at first, and then malignantly transformative. --Pittsburgh Post-Gazette An unsettling account of journalists under fire . --Foreign Affairs Once in a while, a book comes along with the potential to alter our understanding of a place and its history. Anjan Sundaram's Bad News: The Last Journalists in a Dictatorship, which exposes the repression endured in one of the world's poorest countries, is one such work. . . . Make no mistake about it: there is a war going on against legitimate journalism the world over. . . . With Bad News, Sundaram boldly strikes back at the powers that be and his aim is true. Sundaram has pulled back a weighty veil and exposed layers of manipulation that are--for most of us--almost impossible to see. --African Arguments Sundaram's insights are harrowing, his narrative fast paced and immediate. --Financial Times Superb. Anjan Sundaram is one of the finest writers of reportage and non-fiction we have. Here he explores the mechanics and psychology of dictactorship in genocide-haunted Rwanda. Why the West continues to support this regime is one of many important questions he raises. --Richard Grant, author of Dispatches from Pluto Bad News' coverage of Rwanda is a true uncovering. Sundaram's extraordinary reporting returns political stakes to literary ambition, reminding us that writing always participates in political life. --LitHub A superb expose of a dictatorship --The Observer (London) Powerful and shocking. . . . A damning indictment not only of the Rwandan regime, but also the western governments and agencies that have failed to question its practices. --The Times (London) An important book for students of political science, modern history, and journalism. --Publishers Weekly Anjan Sundaram is a keen observer and a fine writer. In Bad News, he has rendered a chilling chronicle of the creeping totalitarianism taking hold in Rwanda that is as disturbing as it is unforgettable. --Jon Lee Anderson, author of Che Guevara A chilling account of reporters in danger that heightens awareness of the importance of a free press. --Kirkus Reviews One of the finest works of reportage in living memory. --The Australian Bad News is an attempt to shed light on a side of Rwanda hidden to most foreigners, but also a memorial to those who give their lives, well-being and even their sanity to the cause of free speech. --Shelf Awareness

Author Information

ANJAN SUNDARAM is the award-winning author of Bad News: Last Journalists in a Dictatorship and Stringer: A Reporter’s Journey in the Congo. His war correspondence won a Frontline Club Award in 2015 and a Reuters award in 2006 and was short-listed for the Prix Bayeux in 2015. Sundaram graduated from Yale University, where he studied mathematics, and holds a PhD in journalism from the University of East Anglia.

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