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SANEF Laments the Impending Closure of Historic Media24 Print Publications

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18 June 2024

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) expresses its profound sadness that Media24 is shutting down the print operations of some of its most iconic print publications, including City Press, Rapport, Beeld, and Daily Sun.

About 400 jobs are expected to be lost.

These titles have been a cornerstone of the South African media landscape, providing essential news coverage and insightful commentary for decades.

SANEF notes the response to the reports by Ishmet Davidson, CEO of Media24, undertaking to continue to consult with staff about any potential and subsequent actions and remain committed to following due process.

SANEF acknowledges the challenging economic environment that Media24 and other media establishments in the print sector are navigating. The financial pressures arising from escalating distribution costs, diminishing advertising revenue, and a readership migration to online platforms are undeniably significant.

Media24 said in a statement: “There is no doubt whatsoever that our future is digital. But our digital news services no longer face competition from only other local publishers. Our main competitors now are Facebook, Google, Instagram and TikTok; all which are well funded and based offshore.”

However, SANEF had hoped that the devastating wave of media shutdowns experienced during the COVID-19 crisis, which nearly obliterated the magazine and community media sectors and led to relentless retrenchments in the mainstream media, had finally subsided. The potential closure of these iconic titles represents a setback more severe than anticipated.

In light of this dire situation, SANEF is encouraged that Media24 plans to explore alternative solutions to preserve these historic publications while adapting to the evolving media landscape. Migrating these cherished print titles to robust digital platforms could provide a viable path forward, ensuring their legacy and continued service to South African readers. Such a transition would not only safeguard jobs but also maintain the diversity and richness of our media ecosystem.

Unfortunately the news of about 400 job losses is a pain that is too much for the industry to bear.

SANEF stands ready to support Media24 and other media houses in navigating these turbulent times. The preservation of journalistic integrity and the continuation of a free, independent press are of paramount importance to our democracy.

We call upon Media24 to engage in open and transparent consultations with all stakeholders, including staff, readers, and industry partners, to find sustainable solutions that honour the legacy of these publications and secure their future in the digital age.

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 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 by 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
  • Nwabisa Makunga – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 555-1972
  • Prof Glenda Daniels – SANEF Secretary-General (083) 229-9708
  • Tshamano Makhadi – Treasurer-General (082) 223 0621
  • Makhudu Sefara – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (079) 177-2134
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Wellness and Safety Chair (082) 805-7022
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Heather Robertson – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (083) 3085618
  • Rochelle De Kock – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (072) 969-8028
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – SANEF Western Cape Convenor (082) 610 9374
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695

 

Partners

African Media Councils Form a Pan-African Network for Self-regulatory Bodies

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MEDIA STATEMENT: Friday 17 May 2024

In an African first, the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA) was formed on Thursday 16 May 2024 after the inaugural meeting of African media councils convened by the South African Press Council in Cape Town, South Africa.

The 13 councils from East, West and Southern Africa resolved to establish the new body to bring together independent media content regulators from around the continent and to convene regularly to discuss the strengthening of media freedom, ethics and public accountability on the continent.

NIMCA calls on independent media regulators in other African countries to join the new organisation to promote self-regulation as the cornerstone of a free, professional and credible media in an evolving communications landscape where social media is implicated in the circulation of unethical and low-quality content.

NIMCA’s objective is for the professional media to report freely and without fear of reprisals while at the same time being accountable for living up to journalistic ethical standards and codes of practice.

NIMCA’s ethos and operations will be guided by the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2019.

The Cape Town meeting agreed that the media, irrespective of whether it is privately or government funded, needs to operate in a free environment with no threats of censorship, intimidation, harassment or threats against journalists. This is because independent and professional journalism is a critical pillar of society that holds governments and other powerful actors accountable, informs the citizenry and help them understand their societies and events as they unfold.

The African media councils met during Africa Month and shortly after World Press Freedom Day and deliberated on a range of issues, from the governance of digital platforms and companies, through to developing a pan-African media ethics framework and ethos, along with UNESCO’s principles for a communications regulatory system that works to foster ethical and credible journalism.

The regulators emphasised that in jurisdictions where co-regulation is constitutionally stipulated, media councils and similar bodies must be allowed to self-regulate and act independently from government. They agreed that trust in and credibility of the media is vital for its survival, and that self-regulatory mechanisms are key to uphold professional standards and consider complaints where media fall short of meeting these.

Delegates also highlighted the issue of gender equity and sensitivity in the composition of regulatory bodies. The NIMCA executive body will in future be formed with equal representation of men and women.

Delegates from the media councils shared their best practices and challenges about press freedom, as well as how to foster ethical journalism in an environment where the media and its regulatory bodies face a crisis of funding and sustainability.

In a fast-changing digital environment, the media regulatory bodies noted that they need to provide guidance on how media should deal with ethical issues related to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), convergence, and the need for new journalism curricula and training models.

Delegates highlighted the risks of social media being treated as a news source by the public, although this environment lacks effective quality standards and ethics, and where trustworthy content and journalism are increasingly hard to find.

The media councils recognised the importance of exploring new financial support models for the media, in order to promote, support and sustain journalism and the related independent self-regulation mechanisms in the industry.

The councils urged journalists, photographers and other media practitioners to uphold the basic tenets of journalism in order to fend off state regulation and punitive measures by those in positions of power.

They also commented on developments in Zambia and welcomed the commitment by the Zambian government to encourage media self-regulation as opposed to state regulation. They urged other countries to repeal repressive laws and policies gagging the media and ensure and promote media freedom.

In the case of Eswatini, where the government has warned that it may consider statutory regulation, delegates urged stakeholders to vigorously pursue a path towards self-regulation.

Delegates from UNESCO also participated in the meeting and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to support and collaborate with African media councils in advocating for freedom of expression, universal access to verified information and safety of journalists and media professionals in line with regional and internationally agreed goals and frameworks.

NIMCA will initially be led by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), which also chairs the East Africa Press Council, represented by MCT executive secretary Ernest Sungura; together with representatives from the host of the inaugural meeting, Latiefa Mobara, executive director of the Press Council of South Africa; from West Africa George Sarpong, executive secretary/CEO of the National Media Commission in Ghana; and from Southern Africa Kennedy Mambwe, chairperson of the Media Self-Regulatory Council of Zambia. They will form the inaugural executive board of NIMCA to set up the organisation.

The MCT will host the 2025 NIMCA meeting, with support from UNESCO and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and will also act as the initial secretariat for NIMCA.

Sungura, the first NIMCA chair, said, “This is an important day for our media sector and eco-system. For too long our media councils have operated in silos with little engagement or information sharing. In a world that is increasingly connected, but also fracturing into echo chambers, NIMCA heralds a new era for building common approaches, deepening media freedom, foster stronger accountability systems and support credible, sustainable journalism across our continent.”

Participants from the following independent media regulatory bodies, some statutory and others non-statutory, participated in the inaugural meeting:

East Africa
Media Council of Tanzania
Media Council of Kenya
Media Council of Uganda
Rwanda Media Commission
Ethiopia Media Council
West Africa
National Media Commission, Ghana
Nigerian Press Council
Southern Africa
Namibia Media Ombudsman
Media Council of Malawi
Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Media Commission
Media Self-Regulation Council of Zambia
Press Council of South Africa

ENDS

Note to editors:
Issued by the newly formed Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA) after its inaugural meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
For interviews, please contact:

Please find the link to the media release here.

Access to Information & Regulatory

SANEF holds a successful workshop on why disinformation destroys democracy

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Mr Sy Mamabolo, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) at the IEC addresses the workshop; photo by Dzudzie Faith Netshisaulu

24 January 2024

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) held its first event of the year at its new offices in Rosebank, Johannesburg on 23 January 2024 in partnership with Media Monitoring Africa.

The workshop on elections, social media, and disinformation was attended by representatives of the IEC, Press Council, Africa Check, media academia, lawyers the Human Rights Commission, Digital Forensics Lab, journalists, and editors from different publications, including the SABC.

The aim of the workshop was for the media to be prepared for election misinformation, disinformation as well as intimidation and to identify information held by social media platforms that can assist in mitigating these risks.

According to a UNESCO/Ipsos survey done in 16 countries including South Africa, 91% of the respondents think that during election campaigns, social media platforms should take an active role in combatting disinformation and “fake news”; and 89% think that during election campaigns, the government and regulators should take an active role in combatting online disinformation and “fake news”.

The workshop was moderated by veteran SANEF member, Professor Guy Berger, who led a risk assessment exercise with the ultimate objective of holding big tech accountable and ensuring the media is free to operate and report freely and fairly.

The workshop agreed that a message needs to be sent to political parties who bully journalists and to big tech that civil society is watching them on social media for bullying narratives and for not taking down online hatred quickly.

Fact-checking organisations are crucially important currently – there are about 15 on the continent and Africa Check has offered to assist South African media to quickly check facts in this election period.

The workshop identified the following potential election-related online risks:

  • Silencing voices by intimidation
  • Attacks on journalists/Incitement via social media
  • Disinformation on elections
  • Manipulated media
  • Attacks on election integrity
  • Hacking of IEC pages/posts
  • Gendered bullying/threats of rape and murder of women journalists
  • Promoting distrust in the electoral process.

Some of the ideas discussed include getting media lawyers on standby to approach the electoral court as soon as a problem is reported by a journalist of intimidation, bullying, cyber-misogyny, and other conduct endangering freedom of media and freedom of expression.

SANEF also proposed that tech platforms use news produced by credible media to counter fake news on their platforms; and encouraged the Human Rights Commission to publicise their social media Charter to guide the public on the responsible use of social media and legal remedies when their rights are violated.

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 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
  • Nwabisa Makunga – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 555-1972
  • Dr. Glenda Daniels – SANEF Acting Secretary-General 083) 229-9708
  • Tshamano Makhadi – Treasurer-General (082) 223 0621
  • Makhudu Sefara – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (079) 177-2134
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Heather Robertson – SANEF Acting Gauteng Convenor (083) 308 5618
  • Rochelle De Kock – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (072) 969-8028
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695
Sustainability & Media Relief Fund 1

SANEF Calls for Competition Reforms in Support of Journalism Sustainability  

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has released a position paper on journalism sustainability and competition in the digital economy, exploring ways in which competition law processes can be used to ensure fair competition between news organisations and tech platforms such as Google and Meta/Facebook.

In the paper SANEF emphasises the urgency of addressing competition in the digital advertising industry, for three reasons:

  • The impact on the news media sector necessitates immediate action to protect the sustainability of this crucial pillar of democracy.
  • The progress being made in other jurisdictions risks overtaking domestic efforts, and it is important that South Africa demonstrates its leadership in developing local responses to this global set of issues.
  • Noting the growing concern around the power and influence wielded by major technology platforms on the news media sector and other aspects of democracy, it is important to develop appropriate regulatory responses to ensure accountability.

The position paper assesses the feasibility of competition reform in South Africa aimed at advancing the sustainability and independence of journalism and achieving a fair and equitable relationship between news media and technology platforms in the SA digital economy.

The paper has been submitted to the Competition Commission for consideration, noting that the July 2022 provisional report on the Commission’s Online Intermediation Platforms Market Inquiry acknowledged the relevance of issues of news sustainability, but recommended that digital advertising issues should rather be addressed through a separate process, including potentially a more focused market inquiry.

This was the Inquiry’s response to submissions by the Publishers Support Services, representing South Africa’s largest news publishers, that the transition to digital news consumption and advertising had resulted in a massive decline in advertising revenue due to the dominance of Google and Facebook in the digital advertising market, and an increase in costs as newsrooms needed to devote resources to their digital presence. PSS stated that this transition had left publishers in a precarious financial position despite cutting costs, and that independent public interest journalism, as one of the cornerstones of a healthy democracy, was under threat as a result.

The position paper reports on the findings of a SANEF research project, conducted by ALT Advisory from late 2021 to early 2022, involving a range of stakeholders in the news media and digital advertising industries, regulators and government officials, as well as extensive desk research on the state of knowledge on related initiatives around the world.

The research covered a broad range of issues, from news media bargaining codes to securing payments from technology platforms to news publishers, the appropriation of news content by technology platforms without compensation, to news media’s competitiveness in today’s digital advertising industry and structural challenges of the digital advertising industry which leaves news publishers inherently disadvantaged.

One of the recommendations in the report is that, if a media bargaining code or related initiative in South Africa is considered, it should be guided by principles aimed at minimising the risks associated with this approach.  Responsible implementation in the South African context requires:

  • an inclusive approach that enables collective bargaining on behalf of small news publishers in order to address the risk of greater market concentration in the media and less media diversity;
  • ensuring criteria for determining levels of compensation that do not disincentivise innovation or exacerbate market incentives for poor-quality journalism;
  • introducing safeguards that ensure that decisions about participation are made by an impartial, reputable, and representative industry body;
  • ensuring that final payment terms are transparently disclosed to enable accountability; and
  • avoiding undermining the fundamentally open nature of the internet or limiting access to news by precipitating the removal of news content from technology platforms.

The paper also explores other forms of competition-focused regulation, given the dominance of technology platforms in the digital advertising industry, which may have positive downstream consequences for the news media by engendering greater competition, transparency, and accountability in the digital advertising industry and may create a more enabling environment for the sustainability of journalism.

These initiatives include comprehensive competition regulation in the digital economy more broadly, increased local taxation of the technology platforms, reforms within the operation of the digital advertising industry, and other efforts to increase the competitiveness of news publishers in the digital advertising market, such as the selling of pooled advertising or extending news regulation to technology platforms.

The position paper follows on a May 2021 SANEF research report setting out a series of policy options to promote media sustainability and realise universal access to public interest journalism in South Africa.  One of those policy initiatives relates to fostering fair competition in the digital economy, which is dealt with in detail in the new position paper.

The publication is intended as a resource for regulators, stakeholders in the news media sector, and other supporters of journalism sustainability in South Africa and beyond to better understand the advantages, challenges, and nuances of pursuing competition-based regulation or reform in the digital economy in South Africa.

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
  • Nwabisa Makunga – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 555-1972
  • Tshamano Makhadi – Treasurer-General (082) 223 0621
  • Makhudu Sefara – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (079) 177-2134
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610-9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Dr. Glenda Daniels – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (083) 229-9708
  • Chiara Carter – Acting SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695

Socials

Sustainability & Media Relief Fund 1

SANEF is Saddened to Learn of the Closure of New Frame

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The South African National Editors’ Forum is saddened to learn that New Frame is closing its publication after the funder pulled the plug.

Launched on 16 August 2018, on the sixth anniversary of the massacre of striking miners at Marikana, New Frame is closing barely weeks away from the tenth anniversary of the Marikana massacre shattering the country’s hopes of sustainable and growing independent media voices.

We note that it came into existence offering the South African public unique news coverage that gave due weight and dignity to the lives and struggles of ordinary people. It was also an initiative that while beginning its work from Johannesburg, promised to progressively become a more pan-African publication in terms of both reach and orientation. As a result, it earned itself a rare brand of being referred to as the ‘people’s media house’ by its well-wishers and admirers within the noticeably short space of its existence.

SANEF has lamented the dilapidating state of the media as we witnessed the country’s small and independent publishers, community print and broadcasters as well as big multiplatform media companies retrenching hundreds of journalists, due to the negative impact of COVID-19 since 2020.

The demise of New Frame also comes at a time when SANEF is seized with the critical national debate on potential public funding models to sustain news media platforms in the country.

The New Frame editorial noted on Monday that “there is no commercial model to sustain it … there is no constituency within the public willing and able to fund it at a viable scale.”

We are also grappling with the nature of state-managed subsidies, which could be raised by taxation on the big data companies to sustain media for the public good to play its role in our democracy.

SANEF wishes to stress that the closure could be avoided if a funder comes forward to support this fresh and significant voice, which has added crucial diversity and plurality to the media landscape.

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
  • Nwabisa Makunga – SANEF Deputy Chairperson (082) 555-1972
  • Tshamano Makhadi – Treasurer-General (082) 223 0621
  • Makhudu Sefara – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (079) 177-2134
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610-9374
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Dr. Glenda Daniels – SANEF Gauteng Convenor (083) 229-9708
  • Chiara Carter – Acting SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (082) 659-9162
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

Media Freedom

Auditor-General Lauds Journalists at SANEF Council

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) held its first Council meeting for 2022 on 12 February 2022 in Cape Town and deliberated on various issues plaguing the media industry and the country.

SANEF held robust discussions with the Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, engaging her on the critical work of accountability in public funding and resources spent, and Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, as government commits to prioritise water security, investment in water resources and maintenance.

Maluleke acknowledged the role of the media in ensuring the public is informed on the work of her office, including service delivery failures and corruption, often providing early warnings about critical areas that can inform their work.

“The media has also been a critical partner in highlighting our audit findings and ensuring they do not go unnoticed. As a case in point, I was particularly pleased by the extent to which the media used our reports, as reference point, during the 2021 local government elections. I want to assure you of our unreserved appreciation for that and for doing your work diligently and without fear or favour,” Maluleke said.

Minister Mchunu decried the numerous plans by successive ministers in his portfolio, highlighting that eradication of pit latrines, reconfiguration of water boards, and resolving the Vaal River sewage spillage will be prioritised during his tenure.

“We need a plan for water reticulation and sanitation that can be implemented by the department irrespective of a minister in the office. The department of Water and Sanitation wants to deal with the problem of the bucket system once and for all. However, it must start with pre-planning for settlements because often settlements are created and then the department starts following behind with water supply and sanitation requirements.

MEDIA ISSUES:

  1. Access to the courts 

SANEF is aggrieved by the deteriorating access for journalists to the country’s Magistrates and High Courts.

Despite access to the courts being secured in the Bill of Rights, which forms part of the Constitution, we have seen magistrates and judges arbitrarily barring journalists from covering public proceedings or imposing rules of access that are both unfair and irrational.

In the latest incident, Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe imposed an application process for journalists to attend the bail hearing review application of Zandile Christmas Mafe, the man accused of burning Parliament, after he was referred by the state to the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.

SANEF wrote to the Judge President in January and is yet to receive a response.

In 2020, SANEF celebrated the Magistrates’ Commission having set national guidelines regarding media access to court proceedings, following months of campaigning.

However, magistrates across the country have ignored their own guidelines. SANEF has tirelessly tried to engage the commission with no success.

SANEF council resolved to write to the Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to plead with him to intervene in this clear violation of the Constitution.

“We have received numerous reports from journalists in various provinces, complaining that they have had to apply for permission to cover court proceedings, sometimes arguing their cases in the magistrates chamber,” SANEF deputy chair Adriaan Basson said.

  1. Nat Nakasa grave

SANEF reiterated its disappointment that the eThekwini municipality is yet to fulfil its promise to restore the tombstone of journalist and anti-apartheid icon, Nat Nakasa.

The tombstones of Nakasa and late former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, lie desecrated at the Heroes Acre in Chesterville, Durban.

  1. Media sustainability 

SANEF council deliberated on journalism sustainability, including fair competition in the digital economy between news media and tech platforms and we are considering engaging the Competition Commission in this regard.

SANEF is also looking at projects that will support the sustainable future of community media as the coalface of information to society.

  1. SABC matters

SANEF, in partnership with Campaign for Free Expression, will continue to push for the SABC grievance hearing against CEO, Madoda Mxakwe, and Board Chair, Bongumusa Makhathini, to be opened to the public. Now fired SABC chief executive Phathiswa Magopeni accused them of editorial interference.

We are also concerned by the growing trend of law-enforcement agencies making no progress in investigations of callous criminal acts of those threatening the lives of journalists, especially during elections. We again call on police to bring to court those threatening Lesedi FM journalists who have been threatened with rape, beatings and death and left threatening graffiti on the walls of the SABC offices in Mangaung, Free State.

For more information please contact:

  • Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEF Chairperson, (083) 399-2852
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Deputy Chairperson, (082) 805-7022
  • Moipone Malefane – SANEF Secretary-General (082) 772-5861
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (073) 404-1415
  • Janet Heard – SANEF Western Cape Convenor (078) 041-9528
  • Hopewell Radebe – SANEF Gauteng Regional Convenor (083) 582-1734
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

Sustainability & Media Relief Fund 1

SANEF Congratulates Nikiwe Bikitsha on Her Appointment to the NPC

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) congratulates renowned journalist Nikiwe Bikitsha on her appointment as a member of the third National Planning Commission (NPC).

Bikitsha was appointed to the NPC by President Cyril Ramaphosa and will serve for a period of five years, effective from 1 December 2021. Bikitsha is an experienced broadcast journalist and social commentator whose contribution to South African journalism is commendable.

She follows in the footsteps of veteran journalist, Dr Thami Mazwai, who previously served in the NPC.

We have no doubt that Nikiwe will commit herself fully to her new role as she has previously done when called upon to do so.

Bikitsha recently sat on the panel appointed by SANEF, chaired by retired judge Kathleen Satchwell, that conducted the inquiry into media ethics and credibility in South Africa.

The panel produced a comprehensive report whose recommendations form a large part of SANEF’s action plan and efforts aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the media in our country.

We wish Nikiwe and the other commissioners, all the best on their appointment as they continue with the important work undertaken by the NPC.

Bikitsha also sits on the board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

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:

  • Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEF Chairperson, (083) 399-2852
  • Katy Katopodis – SANEF Deputy Chairperson, (082) 805-7022
  • Moipone Malefane – SANEF Secretary-General (082) 772-5861
  • Mary Papayya – SANEF Media Freedom Chair (082) 379-4957
  • Sbu Ngalwa – SANEF Eastern Cape Convenor (073) 404-1415
  • Janet Heard – SANEF Western Cape Convenor (078) 041-9528
  • Hopewell Radebe – SANEF Gauteng Regional Convenor (083) 582-1734
  • Judy Sandison – SANEF KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
  • Kate Skinner – SANEF Executive Director – (082) 926-6404

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

 

Media Freedom

SANEF Holds Successful Council Meeting as It Calls on Government to Mutually Respect Its Relationship With the Organisation 

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The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) held its final council meeting for 2021 in Johannesburg, where robust discussions on critical issues affecting the news media industry were held.

The Council meeting noted how the industry continues to battle the devastating impact brought by the COVID-19 pandemic – ranging from the untimely passing of some of our colleagues to the continued negative financial impact of the pandemic on newsrooms.

Despite those challenges, 2021 proved to be an action-packed year for the organisation as SANEF embarked on several projects aimed at empowering journalists. These include:

  1. a) Elections training workshops
  2. b) An Elections portal
  3. c) The Media Relief Fund
  4. d) The production of a manual on Reporting the Courts
  5. e) The production of a manual on Reporting the Covid-19 Pandemic
  6. e) The safety training for journalists
  7. f)  A partnership with SADAG on mental health assistance for journalists. There is now a dedicated SMS line ready to assist journalists. It’s 31985

25 Year Anniversary Book

In marking SANEF’s 25th anniversary, a book was produced were founder members, current editors and members contributed towards its success. The book was initiated and edited by Mary Papayya, the chairperson of SANEF’s Media Freedom Committee and Founder Editor.

Interaction with Presidency

SANEF is concerned by the lack of consistent engagements by the Presidency with the media. When President Cyril Ramaphosa came into office, we proposed that there should be a quarterly engagement with the media, where editors and senior journalists can ask him direct questions on the variety of issues facing the country. Sadly, this seems to have fallen through the cracks as there has been poor or no communication from the Presidency.

In July, there was a promise to engage with the media following the devastating July unrest. This did not happen.

SANEF has also called on the President to take questions following his updates on the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite him acknowledging our request, this has never happened.

The latest in the general deterioration of SANEF’s relationship with the government was Friday afternoon’s last-minute cancellation by the Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele. The minister had earlier committed to attend the SANEF council meeting. There were poor reasons provided for the said cancellation.

Yet again, SANEF would like to remind the government that regular engagement is needed, and we will continue to encourage it.

In a country dealing with multiple crises including a deadly pandemic, a struggling economy, policy uncertainty, unanswered questions around the recent looting, South Africans deserve to hear about these and many other issues from the head of state.

SANEF has traditionally advocated for gatherings, including the Cabinet Indaba, to allow for a deeper understanding of the priorities of government to allow for quality reporting.

We urge the Presidency to consider reinstating this event. The last event was held in 2015, led by President Ramaphosa who was then deputy president.

Independent Media

The SANEF council also had a detailed debate on the continued ethical lapses at Independent Media- most notable is their continued publication of fabricated, misleading, and reputationally damaging stories on the so-called “Tembisa decuplets” – the latest being the ludicrous claim that the non-existent children had been trafficked.

SANEF is not only concerned about the impact of the false story on the wider industry but also the reversal of the hard work many organisations do to encourage pregnant women to use health facilities to deliver their babies. Independent Media continues to publish these fabricated stories with no evidence provided. The exploitation of the pain and suffering of those parents who have lost their children to human trafficking is heartless and deceitful.

We urge organisations, professional bodies, and civil society voices to emulate the commendable position taken by Molo Songololo to not take part in the planned docu-series meant to further whitewash the facts about the non-existent decuplets’ story.

Raymond Louw

SANEF notes and celebrates the honour bestowed on one of our veteran founders, the late Raymond Louw who – at the National Orders event – was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga posthumously by President Ramaphosa. Not only was Louw a veteran journalist who immensely contributed to journalism in SA, but he was also a media freedom champion whose contribution to journalism is well documented even beyond SA’s borders.

2022

As we march into the new year, we do so as an industry faced with various challenges such as the sustainability of the news media, sustaining critical media jobs, declining revenues, the ongoing issue of the safety of journalists, and misinformation, to name a few. These are challenges SANEF, through the cooperation of various stakeholders, is passionate to address as we seek to continue maintaining the media’s rightful place in our constitutional democracy.

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 Ngala – 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
  • Asanda Ngoasheng – Western Cape Convenor – 082 610-9374
  • 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
  • Reggy Moalusi – SANEF Executive Director (071) 682-3695

 

 

Sustainability & Media Relief Fund 1

MTN Supports SANEF and AIP Towards Efforts in Supporting Community Media and Safety Training of Journalists

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MTN has once more raised its hand as it decided to support the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) towards both organisations’ critical programmes.

SANEF and the AIP once more encouraged with the telecommunications group’s efforts in supporting the work being done by the media. Last year MTN was one of the founding companies that supported the establishment of the Media Relief Fund, which has so far assisted hundreds of journalists who lost their income due to Covid-19.

This time around, MTN will be supporting the AIP as it intends to assist community media entities, largely affected by the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. SANEF will be supported towards the safety training of journalists, a growing concern as media workers have been under criminal attacks, with the latest incident happening in Cape Town this week.

MTN pledges an amount of R800 000,00 to be equally shared between both organisations in support of their work and members’ needs.

Sbu Ngalwa, SANEF’s chairperson, says: “The safety training of journalists is an issue we take seriously as an organisation. Recent incidents have necessitated that we pay closer attention to this and assist journalists across community and mainstream media to be well equipped when they go out to cover stories. We are grateful for this much-needed assistance by MTN.”

The funds are intended to help grassroots publishers pay for printing and distribution costs and assist them to get back on their feet again after the damages and loss of advertising revenue caused by the unrest and looting.

Community print media remain a critical voice in their communities, as their widespread coverage spans across the country’s provinces, and the publications are available in nine (9) South African official languages.

MTN SA’s Executive for Corporate Affairs, Jacqui O’Sullivan says: “Community media have such a critical role to play in the day-to-day issues on the doorsteps of so many South Africans. These critical role players have continued their good work in the face of adversity during the pandemic and recent looting and riots. We salute them and hope that this funding will assist them in carrying on their good work.”

The AIP is immensely grateful for the support that has been offered by MTN to its member-publishers as it will give them a much-needed boost and fill-in the unexpected financial gap that was caused by the unrest and looting.

It must be noted that MTN is the founding funder of the Media Relief Fund, managed by SANEF. The fund’s sole intent was to assist financially constrained journalists affected by Covid-19. The fund is now in its fifth and last round, which will see ninety-nine media workers getting financial help.

MTN, SANEF and AIP are now calling on other South African corporates to join us and to assist community media and journalists more broadly with contributions to SANEF’s newly established, Journalism Sustainability Fund.

For more info:

Kate Skinner

Executive Director: AIP

Cell No: 082 926 6404

E-mail: [email protected]

______________________________

Reggy Moalusi

Executive Director: SANEF

Cell No: 071 682 3695

E-mail: [email protected]

______________________________

Mthokozisi Ndlovu

Manager: Communications and Public Relations: MTN SA

Cell No: 083 209 2683

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Socials

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: SANEF

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