Press must transform 18 Aug 2010 | Jackson Mthembu THE media input into and engagement with our discussion document is very unhelpful in that it does not deal with the merits and demerits of what has been raised in the ANC document.
Instead, it rubbishes the ANC with insults. Criticism levelled at the ANC has ranged from describing the ruling party as being bent on "muzzling the press", "gagging of the media", "introducing draconian measures", and "keeping the public ill-informed" - to quote some strong phrases mainly used by the mainstream press, hardly attempting to show how the ANC was committed to "erode press freedom". If only the noble intentions of the ANC were to be clearly understood by our detractors would anyone understand that the campaign is a continued disregard for substantive gripes society has with the press. It does not say anything about the serious lack of transformation in the print media despite decades of self-regulation. The self-regulatory framework that the media so eloquently speaks of has so far ensured that only four media companies own and monopolise the print media industry in South Africa. Some of the four monopolies do not even have any historically disadvantaged groups as shareholders. Some of these companies are 100percent foreign-owned. The print media is one of the only sectors in the South African economy that does not have a charter and has not even made a commitment to establish one, which will determine their employment criteria in relation to young people, people with disabilities, and the affirmation of black people in general. The industry has also not responded to the charge made by the ANC that the transformation experience in the broadcasting industry is as a result of regulatory mechanisms introduced, like the Independent Communications Authority of SA and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. These have made it possible for historically disadvantaged South Africans to own more than 58percent in radio and more than 64percent in television. It is this regulatory framework that has limited foreign ownership in broadcasting to only 20percent. The Media Appeals Tribunal proposed in the ANC discussion document is a means to ensure access to recourse by any South African who is unfairly or maliciously reported on by the print media. The self-regulatory mechanism does not go far enough to deter wrongful, malicious and defaming in reporting by the print media. It is our view that a regulatory mechanism will assist the print media to transform - in line and consistent with what the Constitution would like to see in terms of representivity, ownership, access, employment, and procurement. It will complement the existing self-regulatory Press Ombudsman and the SA Press Council, to introduce punitive measures by disaggregating the crimes that can be committed by journalists or media houses within the universally agreed on Press Code of Ethics. It has never been the intention of the ANC to curtail media freedom as contained in the Constitution. It is the intention of the ANC to ensure that all societal freedoms as contained in the Constitution, including freedom to privacy and freedom to be treated with dignity, are respected by all, including the media - print media in particular. We fully agree with President Jacob Zuma that there should be no sacred cows in any societal debate. The press should, therefore, not see itself above any debate or the Constitution of the country. We also agree with the President that those who have appointed themselves as watchdogs of institutions of power should also be watched by institutions of society. They should not cry foul when society criticises them. They should be mature enough to stand up to scrutiny and make their say without resorting to insults, name-calling and stooping so low as to declare themselves irrelevant to any societal debate. Another major area of interest that the ANC document seeks to address is the diversification of the print media to give access to all race and ethnic groups in South Africa, particularly rural areas. This is an area in which radio has done well through community radio stations and the regionalisation of the SABC offering. When it comes to print, there are few titles published in other indigenous South African languages. This is an area where government needs to step up its efforts, particularly when it comes to supporting instruments of media diversification like the MDDA. - Mthembu is ANC spokesperson. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/incoming/2010/08/18/press-must-transform -- News is something someone, somewhere doesn’t want to read. The rest is PR.— Claud Cockburn www.kwelaxpress.co.za -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
