Press freedom, the commission and you

[Herman Manson: @marklives] How wonderful that, in South Africa's high-volume politics, the chance to step back from the abyss still presents itself. 26 Apr 2012 15:04

Press freedom in South Africa and why self-regulation is best

[Dr Julie Reid] Forget all the emotive arguments for and against self-regulation of the media. The numbers alone paint a clear picture: 70% of the top 50 countries in the Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House press-freedom rankings practice self-regulation. 27 Jan 2012 12:03

Press Freedom Commission hearings humbling, thought-provoking

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] As the Press Freedom Commission is in the midst of its "Listening to SA Campaign" - a series of public hearings in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg - one has to wonder: Will the ANC reject its findings just as it has managed to cast doubt on the independence and efficacy of the press ombudsman? 25 Jan 2012 10:21

Press Council review supports self-regulation, obviously

[Theresa Mallinson] The Press Council report into media regulation in South Africa has come out strongly in favour of continued self-regulation, with a few tweaks here and there. Whether this is enough to finally and completely dissuade the ruling party from looking into setting up a media appeals tribunal is arguable. 19 Aug 2011 11:11

Press Council endorses self-regulation, mulls major changes

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] The South African Press Council yesterday, Thursday, 18 August 2011, released a 100-page report in which it endorses media self-regulation and proposes major changes to the SA press code and the functioning of the press ombudsman's office. 19 Aug 2011 10:06

Hacking scandal nerve-wracking for our hacks, too

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] Fall-out from the phone hacking scandal in the UK has not yet spread abroad in any significant way but, like that massive tide of flotsam from the Japanese tsunami, it might take a few years to find its way ashore, and when it does, it will create an enormous mess. 25 Jul 2011 09:30

Is the Press Freedom Commission DOA?

[Theresa Mallinson] The formation of the Press Freedom Commission is the latest effort by South Africa's media industry to investigate best practices in self-regulation. But, given the PFC's genesis and its limited mandate, will the ANC take its recommendations seriously when evaluating whether a media appeals tribunal is a good idea? All indications suggest not. 18 Jul 2011 10:50

Show some backbone, mense in the media

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] The best thing that the newly formed Press Freedom Commission has got going for it is that it's being chaired by the highly respected former chief justice, Pius Langa. Not that there aren't plenty other good things about the commission - such as commissioners with integrity such as Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. 14 Jul 2011 12:32

And all this time, they said the problem was spin

[Chris Vick] For a profession that is so reflective on the state of the world, South African journalism is sadly remiss in being reflective on the state of itself. This is a spin doctor's perspective on the current - probably temporary - crisis of conscience. 12 Jul 2011 10:01

Media-regulation glee club has a new hit show

[Herman Manson: @marklives] In the wake of the massive phone-hacking scandal playing out in Britain, its prime minister, David Cameron, has called for the scrapping of media self-regulation and for stronger press regulation by government. 11 Jul 2011 14:25

What's so special about the Press Freedom Commission?

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] A new star, the Press Freedom Commission (PFC), has appeared in the emotionally charged galaxy of the South African print media, where ethics are sometimes flouted in the name of freedom of expression and critical journalists are held at gunpoint by a ruling party that believes that self-regulation is 'toothless' and not working. 11 Jul 2011 09:48

The problem isn't just Manyi but the media as well

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] The relationship between government and the media in South Africa is undeniably at a 17-year low. The acrimonious scrap between cabinet spokesman Jimmy Manyi and the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) bears testimony to just how low this relationship is right now. 23 Jun 2011 14:47

Mixed reactions over controversial Sunday Times report

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] The controversial Sunday Times Review Panel's full report - withheld and hidden from the public view for a long time but brought to light by freelance journalist Michelle Solomon and finally published this week by Business Day - has been met with mixed reactions from media analysts and politicians. 17 Jun 2011 11:55