The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is launching the fourth round of its Media Relief Fund – started to assist journalists who have lost their jobs and/or their income as a direct result of the Covid-19 national disaster declared in March 2020.
Journalists who previously benefitted from the fund but whose’ circumstances have not changed or have since worsened can also apply and will be eligible in this latest round.
Affected journalists are encouraged to submit their applications with all relevant and supporting documentation from today to be considered by the fund.
Working in conjunction with the Social Justice Initiative (SJI), we wish to report that in our first and 2nd rounds; we received 700 applications and approved 249 journalists for payments.
Round three saw a total of 47 applicants being approved. Each successful applicant receives R5000 to help them buy basic essentials and data.
So far SANEF has paid out a total of R1,480,000.
In terms of the criteria, we have called for the following people to apply: Struggling journalists including those from community media platforms around the country, freelance or contract journalists. The journalists need to have been retrenched, received substantial salary cuts or had their contracts cancelled from the date of the implementation of the national lockdown on March 26th 2020 – or thereafter – as a result of COVID-19. Photographers, print, Magazines, Community print, broadcast and multimedia journalists are all included.
Please see a link to the application form Application Form – Round Four- Final and herewith the link to the criteria Criteria for Round 4 – updated
SANEF wants to warmly thank all those who donated including corporates, donors and individual partners that have included several journalists and ex journalists who have been worried about the plight of their colleagues. Collectively we have raised a total of R4 870 067. We received our first donation to kick-start the fund from MTN South Africa. This was followed by funds from FNB Accounts (First Rand), Yellowwoods NPC, Allan Gray (Pty) Ltd, Arch Thabo Makgoba Development Trust, OSF – SA, Standard Bank, and Old Mutual.
Further, we would like to thank our independent panel of adjudicators – that includes Mathatha Tsedu, Joe Thloloe, Wandile Fana and Melody Emmett as well as Anlo Financial Services. The panel continues to play a critical role in adjudicating all applications and Anlo has played an important role in the initial processing of all documentation.
Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
For more information please contact:
Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Chairperson (073) 404-1415
Adriaan Basson – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 562-2113
Mahlatse Mahlase – Secretary-General (083) 399-2852
Nwabisa Makunga – Treasurer (082) 555-1972
Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
Katy Katopodis – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (082) 805-7022
Chiara Carter – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
Twitter: @SAEditorsForum
Email: [email protected] Website: www.sanef.org.za