PARLIAMENTARY INDABA:TRANSFORMATION AND

DIVERSITY IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRINT MEDIA

Presentation by:William Bird & Carol Netshifhefhe

22 September 2011

ABOUT MMA

Formerly the Media Monitoring Project Vision:

A responsible media that enables an informed and engaged citizenry in

Africa and across the world.

Promoting Human Rights and Democracy through the media since

1993

MORE ABOUT MMA

Human rights NGO monitoring the media since 1993 – celebrating 18 years; Conducted over 120 media monitoring projects:

Race (SAHRC, CSVR), Elections; Gender (GMBS, GMMP); Children (ECM); HIV (WITS, MAP), and more!

MMA & SUBMISSIONS

Impact media policy, submissions:IBA and ICASA

Broadcasters Code of Conduct;SABC Licence Conditions;Elections report;Disability code of conduct, and more!Individual media, SABC Editorial Policies;Press Council Review;

Parliamentary Committees;Broadcasting Bills;Advertising & Transformation Hearings;

MMA Bias and AssumptionsMMA work has Human Rights Bias;LOVE our Constitution;Print media and Government intend to do good;Public and citizen participation essential for democracy;

Delighted to be taking place in MEDIA FREEDOM WEEK!! Debate on Hate Speech Ruling

PROCESS

Concerns: Very short notice of the indaba; Exclusive invitations; Lack of consultation;

Conspiracy theories: encourages view that parliament is out to limit media freedom;

Flies in face of recent considered, consultative approach by Department of Communication, Portfolio Committee on Communication on SABC AND EVEN ICASA has announced comprehensive review.

PROCESS Accordingly:

This is the beginning of far more engaged series of debates, discussions and consultations on key issues;

CRUCIAL to the success of the process is the importance of QUALITY consultation

Quality consultation: Not rushed; Full, meaningful, comprehensive engagement

with ALL key stakeholders and ordinary citizens over a reasonable period of time;

Promotes entrenchment and realisation of the rights in our constitution;

And in line with principles of open and accountable governance

TRANSFORMATION

Significant change and transformation in our media sector as a whole in terms of:

Ownership; Diversity; Content

TRANSFORMATION

Is it the best in the world? Maybe not Could our media be better? Yes – as could we all

My country my media a personal impact Seeing people like me: in stories and

practitioners Transformation is an ongoing journey

USA celebrated 227 of their Constitution – South Africa less than a 10th – but look how far we have come

But we must keep going…

TRANSFORMATION

Crucial to the process is; We have to want to change:

Desire for change and improvement; Ongoing pressure from civil society – on all

of us to do better; Positive Incentive for change

TRANSFORMATION Are the factors for change present?

YES, Pressure and incentive from civil society; MMA in its 18 years experience has seen

significant positive shifts in coverage on: Gender and gender based violence; Race, racism and xenophobia; Children and Elections

From what I know ALL of these were unimaginable less than 20 years ago

Seen new papers emerging! Targeting new audiences – Daily Sun and Daily Voice; Small

commercial African language media: Isolezwe, Sunday Times IsiZulu edition; Efforts from Government and MDDA in supporting small media

???

WAY FORWARD

We look forward to participating in a comprehensive process focused on these issues and more;

MMA will provide research, detailed input and assistance going forward should we be invited;

Thank you; Please support media freedom week Get onto twitter if you cannot be there follow

#FreeMediaZA

WAY FORWARD