PRISA disapproves passing of Secrecy Bill

According to the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA), the reputational damage to South Africa's democracy, the ruling party, Government and Parliament, over the passing of the Secrecy Bill, will be difficult to manage and repair, both locally and globally, and the international stage will most certainly view the reasons for implementing the bill as thinly veiled and sanctimonious. 24 Nov 2011 11:00

Eighty-one percent want independent media - survey

Thirty-one percent of metro adults support the ANC's proposed Media Appeals Tribunal (MAT) and 31% are in favour of the Protection of Information Bill (aka Secrecy Bill). This is according to a new study released yesterday, Tuesday, 31 May 2011, by TNS Research Surveys. 1 Jun 2011 13:55

Info bill deadline extended

NEWSWATCH: The deadline for comment on the much unloved - by the media, anyway - Protection of Information Bill - has been extended to 31 March 2011, reports Times Live. Meanwhile, the 'handling' of news around Nelson Mandela's recent sojourn in hospital has drawn fire from both sides of the fence - one blast being from a king, no less, according to the Mail & Guardian. 31 Jan 2011 13:27

Crunch year for media as Zuma issues stern warning

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] President Jacob Zuma sent a strong message right at the start of the year to the media, warning editors and journalists that, while the ruling ANC continues to promote and fight for media freedom, it would however not keep quiet if things 'were not in order' in newsrooms. The warning comes at the time when several controversial media laws and proposals are set to be finalised - a move described by analysts as one of the darkest periods in post-apartheid South Africa. 12 Jan 2011 09:55

That bill: Are MPs starting to see reason?

NEWSWATCH: It's taken a while, but at last MPs may be starting to see reason on the contentious Protection of Information Bill, which has been roundly criticised by not only the media, but also some of the ANC's own - such as Ronnie Kasrils. Here is a collection of links to the latest reports on the state of play. 17 Nov 2010 13:23

POI dancing and a little Brinkmanship

NEWSWATCH: André P Brink, who miffed the apartheid government, says the Protection of Information (POI) Bill must rank as the stupidest thing the ANC government has ever done - "and that says a lot", reports News24. Meanwhile, the proposed bill is attracting attention beyond South Africa's borders, with Voice of America reporting on opposition to the measure. Finally, our old favourite, the SABC is being slammed, again, and this time it's the voice of Godi, reports Business Day. And a last one... Last week the The New Age didn't launch... Moneyweb apparently has an insider's view. 28 Oct 2010 07:19

IPI commemorates 'Black Wednesday' in SA

JOHANNESBURG: The International Press Institute (IPI) joined South Africa in commemorating 'Black Wednesday' yesterday, 20 October 2010 by participating in the annual National Media Freedom Day at Wits University. This year's Black Wednesday events holds particular relevance in light of recent debates centering on the government-proposed Media Appeals Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill. 21 Oct 2010 10:03

WAN-IFRA calls for press freedom in Africa

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has called on African nations to immediately abolish criminal defamation and "insult" laws that are widely used to silence criticism and intimidate free reporting across the continent. 5 Oct 2010 08:14

Right2Know to launch in Gauteng

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The Right2Know (R2K) movement, an umbrella of over 200 civil society bodies, is launching this week in Gauteng after a successful initial launch last month in the Western Cape. The Chalsty Centre at Wits University's School of Law in Johannesburg will be the venue for the R2K Gauteng launch and an intense public information session this Wednesday, 15 September 2010, at 11.30am. 13 Sep 2010 08:55

Major international news agencies warn Zuma over media freedom

[Sipho Hlongwane: @comradesipho] Four of the world's largest news agencies have added their voices to the mounting tsunami of opposition against the proposed media appeals tribunal and Protection of Information Bill. Agence France Presse, The Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters have written to President Jacob Zuma, expressing their concerns. 8 Sep 2010 10:02

More support for Declaration of Table Mountain

African press freedom advocates met in Kenya last week to support the Declaration of Table Mountain, a freedom of expression campaign organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) to repeal criminal defamation and insult laws across the continent. 6 Sep 2010 09:16

Naspers AGM, prize giving reflect good results

Naspers held its AGM and annual staff awards function in Cape Town on Friday, 27 August 2010. The chairperson, Ton Vosloo, in his report indicted that the group's revenues grew 5% to R28 billion in the midst of the global economic downturn and that operations continued to expand. 30 Aug 2010 09:16

SANEF welcomes court decision; will hold media freedom summit

The interim interdict by the Western Cape High Court, against the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications on holding a hearing of a briefing by the SABC behind closed doors, was welcomed yesterday, Tuesday, 24 August 2010, by the Press Gallery Association (PGA) and the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF), which will be hosting a media freedom summit in Johannesburg early next week. 25 Aug 2010 09:36